Chapter 13

Ashvik's POV

We are gathered together to have dinner, and all the guests have left. "Waah, today's food is amazing" grandma Padma comments "It was a good decision to give Fateful Event the project. The arrangements are good and the food is great".

"Why are not you eating anything?" Ranvit approaches "Is it not good enough?".

"No, I just don't wanna eat anything" I sit down on an available couch. "At least have this, it is very good" Nihal hands me a bowl of halwa, "Seriously a dessert" I groan. "Oh come on man, it is very good you have to try it" he forcibly feeds me a spoonful.

"Yah Yah Nihal don't force him" Ranvit tries to intervene. I taste the kind of familiar sweetness, the halwa melts in my mouth. Nihal smugly smiles "I knew you would like it; the taste is amazing and also the cook".

"What do you mean?" I inquire kind of aware of what his reply would be. "Guess bro, did you feel nothing?" Nihal expectantly enlarges his eyes "Tsk you are so hopeless; of course it is Kashish. Whose else food can it be that I feed you forcibly and you won't bite me?" Nihal states like its the most obvious fact "Everyone knows you hate sweets but you told me you ate her handmade sweet so I knew it you are gonna love this too". Ranvit chuckles "Good at least he ate something. He has been grumpy this whole evening",

"Isn't he always that way" Nihal joins and they laugh together "Finish it" Nihal hands me the bowl and leaves with Ranvit. I hesitantly but completely gulp the halwa leaving nothing in the bowl, it has been a long since I enjoyed desserts.

No one's POV

"Did you see? he ate the halwa" Udayati Singhania enthusiastically comments gazing at Indulekha. "Yeah, I know. The last time when I visited him I used his birthday as an excuse and I thought he complied because I forced him. But I was wrong this time he ate it willingly" Indulekha lovingly looks at his grandson. "Finally he has tasted some sweetness after years. I pray his life will become as sweet as that" Udayati smiles optimistically.

Kashish's POV

I am cleaning the maze after hectic hours. "So you are still here!" I hear a voice behind me. Instead of replying, I continue to ignore his existence. "Are you ignoring me?" he grips my wrist and turns me to face him "What are you doing?" I ask him pissed with his action. "You were ignoring me" Ashvik looks at me frustrated.

"What do you want? I don't have time right now", I stare at him coldly, "Why are you always so cold to me?" his question puzzles me, was I cold to him?.

"Do I know you? Have we met before?" he further inquires. "What's with this question?" I tug my wrist from his grip. "How can you copy my mother's food's taste exactly?" his serious gaze kind of frightens me.

"What are you talking about?" I raise my brow at this crazy question. "The kheer and today's moong dal halwa taste exactly like how my mother used to cook" I feel agitated at his question, I did learn cooking from his mother and she taught me a few tricks that slightly change the taste of the dishes, but the difference is so little it is unnoticeable.

"Every kheer and halwa taste just the same, what weird ideas are you having" I try to flee the scene but he grabs my wrist again and pulls me away from the area.

"What are you doing? Let me go. What's wrong with you?" I try to pry open his grip but he is too strong. He drags me to the terrace. "Now tell me the truth" Ashvik glares at me directly, "Why are you behaving like a five-year-old kid? And what truth are you talking about every sweet tastes the way it is supposed to taste there is no difference !" I point out the fact, why is he making such a fuss.

"Don't lie to me I have a different palate than normal people. I can differentiate it easily" he states confidently. "You are wrong. And if it is similar then it might just be a coincidence" I spew out worriedly. "Oh, really then how am I only able to taste the sweets you make" his words confuse me. "What are you saying?" my question earns a sigh from him "I can't taste sweet my palate has stopped detecting sweet for a long time now".

His sudden confession bewilders me, "But your cooked dessert has brought back my senses for sweet, and the familiar taste how can I forget it, it was special for me".

"I. I don't know what to say" his words confuse me. "Just tell me the truth" he expectantly watches my changing expression. "I told you already, I learned cooking from my mother. I don't know what you want to hear from me" I lie calmly. He glares at me "What was I even expecting? Okay fine sorry for interrupting your work" he walks away angrily.

"What's with his sudden weird mood?" I didn't expect he will again confront me about this, when he asked me about my cooking in the elevator I didn't think the reason behind the curiosity was so deep. I rub the sweat that was forming in my head, his mood was not normal right now did something happen.

Ashvik's POV

I walk out and stand in the vacant corridor, what was wrong with me, I just couldn't control my emotions.

I recall my grandfather's words.

"Are you still resolute to not get married? Do you think you can live alone forever" he aged but his arrogant face is still young as ever. "Yes, I am planning to live alone because you guys have already made me alone nine years back" my words widen his eyes in shock. I turn my back to him "You can't keep blaming me for that incident forever. What happened was an accident" I hear his words but don't stop to reply "Ashvik .... Ashvik stop right there" I don't stop, while I am walking aimlessly I see Kashish busy with her chore. And I don't know what came over me I confronted her directly.

My questions earned me a puzzled look as well as well looks of annoyance, pity, and confusion. I know I was being a pain with all these questions that were unrelated to her but what surprised me was her agitation and all those conflicting expressions it felt like she was being cautious and hiding something.

But it has always been the same whenever she is in front of me her mood is always so confusing, but what is most prominent is that I feel like her eyes are always accusing me making me feel like I have done something wrong to her. Her eyes make me feel guilty it kind of reminds me to reflect. I sigh in annoyance, Kashish is a mystery and her eyes hide lots of secrets in them. I should probably avoid these circumstances again.

Kashish's POV

I am in a daze looking at the people in the hall, Indulekha and Udayati Singhania who is Ashvik's stepmother in our home. I am in doubt looking at them, "So I hope you accept our offer?" Indulekha expectantly smiles at me. I feel Babli nudging me from behind when I was spacing out "Sorry but I didn't understand" I feel reluctant. "We want you to be our cook specifically Ashvik's".

I am standing alone in my room looking out through the window, a soothing breeze flows in. "What are you thinking about?" my mother speaks standing behind me. "I am thinking if me declining their offer would affect negatively in Prakash uncle's business" my worries are reflected through my words. "No my daughter, they came with an offer and you decided to refuse" she puts her hand reassuringly on my shoulder "Don't worry they didn't force you to comply, you said what you wanted".

"But Ma, I don't trust these rich people. They say something and act differently", my words earn a sigh from mother. "I know you don't trust those people's words. But they were just a family member who came to ask for a favor for their son and that's it. Now don't think too much" my mother softly pushes me towards my bedroom "Go to bed early, you have work tomorrow". I go to sleep early that night.

Today I have started working in the company canteen again.

"Kashish, I heard Singhania's came to your house offering you a job" Dimple starts randomly conversing with me while I am stirring the curry in the pot. "How did you know?" I confusedly glance at her, "I overheard your and Vennila's conversation" I nod in reply "Aren't you a lucky girl able to obtain the attention of the predominant people in such a short period" her irritation is visible through her tone.

"I declined it" I reply nonchalantly, "Of course you should, your skills are still far too deficient, I heard they hire only professional chefs, and you are a new flower bud that hasn't even bloomed yet" she mockingly laughs and walks away. I sigh at her choice of words.

"You know you should have taken the job as the Singhania's cook" Vennila calmly voices her thoughts to me "I heard they pay well". "I get paid enough in this work too and I prefer working here. I should probably clean the counter" I smile and leave Vennila not wanting to discuss further this issue.

I am mopping the stained floor at the moment as the canteen is completely vacant and I am the only one left, Vennila left a few minutes earlier. Prakash's uncle has given me the responsibility to lock up the canteen from today as he is getting busier and leaves earlier.

I am humming to myself when I hear footsteps behind me, I turn to see it is the owner of the company. "Why are you still here?" he questions me staring blankly at me. "I was cleaning up" I answer awkwardly holding the mop. "You should leave now" he turns and walks out. I get confused about what was his sudden visit for and he left just like that. I continue mopping till I finally remove the stain.

I lock up and walk out of the building, I see a black car standing outside "Isn't that Ashvik's car?" I murmur to myself. I walk around it and leave for the bus stop.

Ashvik's POV

I drive my car to the front of the building waiting for Kashish. Today grandma came to me and told me about how their talk with Kashish. I lean back on the seat, they requested me to convince Kashish. I couldn't understand why were they so rigid about making her our cook. We already had hired professional cooks, and all of them can cook multiple cuisines. There have never been any complaints from family members as well as guests that visited so what's with their sudden piqued interest. I exhale, although I was against it they were unwavering.

I see Kashish walking out of the building but I become a statue, I just look at her walking around my car, and soon she vanishes. I come back to my senses. I sigh, maybe I will talk with her on Monday. I drive off.

Kashish's POV

Today is the weekend and Babli and I are visiting her friend's marriage. "Oh my beauty queen, you look dazzling" I laugh at Babli's exaggerated compliment. "Why are you laughing? I am saying the truth" she smiles genuinely. "Thank you" I return the smile appreciatively.

Parvaan drops us at the venue, "Wow the decorations look amazing" Babli pulls me "Let's take a picture here". I see a large signboard written Yasmin weds Yusuf, I smile for a pic.

We enter the venue only after Babli is satisfied with her photo session.

"My stomach is gonna burst. Food was so good I couldn't stop myself from taking a second serving" Babli huffs clutching her stomach. I smile at her reaction. I hear Babli's phone ringing "Your phone is ringing" I inform her. She picks up chuckling "Hello Ma, Kashish? yeah she is here" her jolly expression suddenly falls in a split-second "What?". She looks at me worriedly "Kashish.. Saina aunty had a heart attack".