Chapter 13

Rishi held Manjari’s hand and walked out but stopped by the door. He turned around and saw Vimal and Aadhi rooted in their place.

Rishi: I don’t think we should delay anymore. Manjari and the baby must be hungry.

Aadhi bobed her head and followed first and Vimal walked behind her. Aadhi was about to sit in the passenger seat next to Rishi but Manjari got seated before her. Aadhi happily joined Vimal in the back seat. Both the brother and sister started chatting and watching reels that she enjoyed recently. Rishi watched them from the rear view mirror while Manjari closed her eyes and leaned back feeling irritated over the noise of the brother, sister duo.

As soon as they reached a five star hotel Rishi helped Manjari get down and lead her to the private dine which he reserved on way. Aadhi and Vimal sat next to each other and everyone ordered food for them.

Rishi: Manjari, take good care of yourself and if you need anything call me anytime. If you don’t like home made food then inform Vimal to get something to your liking or if he is busy call me, I will get you whatever you want.

Aadhi: Rishu, it is not advisable to eat outside very often during pregnancy. Mom will sure cook the best food for sister in law which she needs now for her and baby.

Manjari turned deaf ears to her words and once their food was served Manjari who was seated between Vimal and Rishi passed her plate to Vimal who started feeding her. Rishi and Aadhi looked at them and tried to focus on their plate.

Vimal: Aadhi, do you want me to feed you too ?

Aadhi: No bro, both you and Rishu are the same in teasing me. He too teases me like you and most of the time he cheats me feeding more food so its better I will eat on my own.

Rishi choked on the food and Aadhi immediately pat on his head and passed him water. Manjari showed her palm stopping Vimal from feeding her further saying she was full. After dinner they returned to penthouse and Vimal, Manjari returned home in his car. Waving them bye Rishi and Aadhi entered the elevator to reach the penthouse.

Aadhi cleaned the dining table, kitchen and returned to the bedroom. On seeing Rishi working in his laptop she moved to the balcony with her notebook and settled on the swing. Middle of the night she returned to the room and saw Rishi was sleeping. Without disturbing him she sat next to him on the bed and watched his face in a close proximity.

Aadhi: Why do you think I m being fake to you Rishu ? Do you know how badly I wanted to confess my love to you but I will wait for you too fall in love with me. I m not immature Rishu, atleast not about my feelings for you.

She laid on the couch and slept watching him. The next day while talking to Vimal she requested him to find out Rishis’s birth date from Manjari. Within few minutes she received a message from Vimal that it was in a month.

The next day she reached college and walked lost in thoughts leaving Chaitra and Malini shocked. They followed her wondering what could be running in her mind that she failed to notice her best friends. Malini pat on her back and Aadhi shreiked with her eyes wide as saucers.

Chaitra: Oiii Mrs. Rishu, where are you lost ? Don’t tell us you did the deed with the your crushy baby and couldn’t forget the night ?

Aadhi: Shut up, Rishu’s birthday is next month and I wanted to make it very very special for him so I was just thinking of it.

Malini: Simple, bake a cake for him.

Aadhi: I have never ever baked a cake Maalu.

Malini: Come to my home and I will tell my mom to teach you. You have a month time to learn and do it for him.

Chaitra: Buy something special for him. He should change his mind and book tickets for honeymoon after seeing your gift for him.

Aadhi: Keep boosting my confidence until I don’t give up to the day my Rishu will fall in love with me.

Malini: You are too hard to resist and you should bring your Rishu to college and let him watch how many boys wanted you in their life. He got you in his life easily so he doesn’t know your value. Let that go and now tell us what gift have you planned for him ?

Aadhi: A cake, a gold bracelet with our names. Last time I gifted him a bead bracelet he denied because he couldn’t wear it to his office or meet customers wearing it.

Malini: Liar, your brother too works and wears the bracelet you gifted him.

Aadhi: Don’t hurt my feelings Maalu, he will wear if I gift him in gold, Aadhu & Rishu with a heart. I will invite both our families to celebrate his birthday.

Chaitra: Idiot, why can’t you plan something to spend some lone time with him ?

Aadhi: He will not even look at me when we are alone but if I invite the family atleast he will stay next to me and accept whatever gift I give him.

Malini and Chaitra felt bad for her and wished Rishi would realize his mistake and cherish the gem he got in his life.

By evening she arrived at a super market with Malini and  with Malini’s mother on call she bought everything that was needed to bake a cake. She reached Malini’s home and informed driver to keep it a secret since she wanted to surprise Rishi.

Malini’s mother patiently taught her to bake a cake and Aadhi made note of everything step by step. She reached home 3 hours late and quickly changed into her shorts and sleeveless top. She prepared a simple dinner and spent the time watching more baking videos and making notes out of them.

When Rishi returned home he saw her walking looking at her mobile and even she set the table looking at her mobile. He was about to lay on the bed fafter dinner and saw Aadhi entering the room yet again she was lost in her mobile.

Rishi Mv: Now madam has become so addicted to instagram reels.

He shook his head and ignoring her, he laid on the bed. The next day evening she bought everything needed to bake a cake and started her work. She called Vimal who was on a video call with her.

Aadhi: Bro, this is the first time I m about to bake a cake and I want someone to encourage me so stay connected for a while please and pray god that I should bake the best cake for Rishu.

Vimal: I m jealous of him. You never thought of giving me such surprises but now you wanted to bake a cake for your husband alone ? What about your poor brother ?

Aadhi: Bro, please don’t be jealous. Sure I will bake a double layer cake for your birthday too so now please pray for me.

Vimal: Alright duckling go ahead and start your work. Manjari said he never celebrated his birthday.

Aadhi: I will break the rules and celebrate his birthday with a blast. Rishu is very special and everything has to be special.

Vimal: What cake are you planning for him ?

Aadhi: I m not a professional baker bro so I have finalized red velvet in a heart shape.

Vimal: Wow, someone is so romantic. Should I even be there on his birthday ? I don’t want to see you both being all lovey dovey. You are my sister duckling.

Aadhi: Shut up bro. I will read out the measurements from my notes and you just watch if I m doing it correctly.

Vimal hummed and the next one hour she patiently followed her notes and an hour later she pulled out the cake from the oven and Vimal raised his brows watching her taste it.

Aadhi: Something is missing bro, I don’t know what is it. Not the taste I expected.

Vimal: Its ok duckling this is the first time you tried it so don’t worry and keep learning. Dispose everything and try tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

Aadhi hummed and cut the call returning to her usual work of cooking dinner. She updated her friends about her status in baking the cake and they encouraged her a lot. For the next two weeks she continued baking cake everyday and made sure to dispose without Rishi finding it.

On Friday evening Aadhi returned excitedly from college after her plans with Malini and Chaitra  to go shopping and Aadhi decided to buy gifts for Rishi. She prepared dinner for him and as usual waited for him. Rishi served his dinner as usual and Aadhi poured water in his glass.

Aadhi: Rishu, my friends have planned to go shopping tomorrow. You will leave for office and I will be bored at home so shall I go with them ? Please Rishu, I will be back home on time.

Rishi: What are you trying by asking permission from me ? Its not like I interfere in anything you do in your life so stop all this drama. We are just strangers living under the same roof.

He walked away and Aadhi entered the room after a while after all her cleaning work. She saw a stack of money on the couch and looked at Rishi who was reading a book. She placed the money on the bed and returned to the couch.

Aadhi: I didn’t want your money Rishu. I asked for your permission because I thought you would have felt I m your responsibility even as a strangers living under the same roof.

She picked her notebook and walked to the balcony as usual. Rishi looked at the money and her disappearing figure. Next morninng Rishi left to his office and Aadhi picked up Malini and Chaitra. They reached the mall and first thing Aadhi entered a jewel shop and chose a beautiful bracelet and let them customize it with their names just like she wanted in it. Later Malini and Chaitra bought some clothes for them and Aadhi bought a shirt and pant for Rishi.

Malini: Aadhi, what else do you want to buy ? Just a week is left and we may not find time for shopping once again.

Aadhi: I want to decorate our home so lets buy everything I need for that.

They bought everything Aadhi wanted for Rishi and had lunch before Aadhi dropped them home. By the time she returned to penthouse it was evening and she turned on the music system and started hiding everything in the cabinets of the kitchen since Rishi entered the kitchen only when he wanted water to be filled in his bottle. She felt someone’s presence and screamed on seeing Sudhir.

Sudhir: Good evening madam, I m  Sudhir, sir’s PA.

Aadhi: Ofcourse I remember you seeing on wedding day but what are you doing here ? You scared me Sudhir bro.

Sudhir: I used to come here and help Mrs. Latha to stock the provisions. I thought you will be late from shopping and planned to complete my work before you would arrive. Sorry for the inconvenience madam.

Aadhi: Bro, call me Aadhi or Aadhira and thank you so much for stocking the kitchen. I thought Latha aunty did on her own.

Latha entered the kitchen holding some bags and smiled on seeing Aadhi.

Latha : Did we disturb you Aadhi ?

Aadhi: No aunty, you both must be tired and in fact I m tired too so let me prepare a hot coffee for us.

Sudhir: Its ok, I need to get back to work.Sir may return early today since he has no meetings in schedule.

Aadhi: No way I will let you go without having coffee bro. You are Rishu’s PA and must be helping him a lot in work. Poor Rishu works so late every day and you must be staying with him so let me serve you a coffee atleast. Actually the real reason is I haven’t prepared coffee for a long time so I wanted to test if my coffee will taste better and I got you both today.

She raised her fist and Sudhir, Latha looked scared if they should try her coffee. Sudhir took a look at the music playing and Aadhi shaking her head to it while she focused on the coffee.

Sudhir Mv: Mr. Calm married Miss Loud speaker ? He really meant about Aadhira being a replica of the girl we met at the hotel that day.

He chuckeld imagining Rishi at home with Aadhira and sat on the couch. Aadhi served the coffee and Sudhir looked at Latha who was also terrified in trying the coffee. They couldn’t deny their boss’s wife so slowly they sipped it and smiled to its taste.

Sudhir: Madam, this tastes good.

Aadhi laughed throwing her head back and sipped the coffee from her cup.

Aadhi: Bro, I was just kidding. I prepare coffee everyday for Rishu.

Latha: Aadhi, what was that you were hiding in the cabinets ?

Aadhi: That is a surprise I m planning for Rishu’s birthday so you both will keep that a secret especially you Sudhir bro. If you spoil my surprise then I will inform Rishu to let you work on Sunday too.

Sudhir raised his hands with a smile looking at the energy bomb and made his way out after thanking her for the coffee.