Hate Me Like You Don't

Don't you know to think twice?

"E toh bahut e badhiya hai. Humko oo din pata hota toh hum thora..." (Translation: That is so nice. If I would have known that day...)

"Purani baaton ko bhul jaiye Naniji. Hum toh bhul chuke hain." Khushi smiled. (Translation: Old things are meant to be forgotten. I have, already. )

Nani nodded.

"Di, mera breakfast." Khushi heard ASR.

"Chhote, tum! Humein laga tumhe late hoga. Paudhon ko pani de diya?" (Translation: I thought you would get late. Did you water the plants?)

"Ek zaruri meeting hai. Maine Hariprakash ko bol diya hai wo dekh lega." (Translation: I have an important meeting. I have told Hariprakash to see to it.)

"Acha. Chalo tum baitho, hum laate hain." (Translation: Okay, take a seat. I'll serve you.)

"No." ASR yelled. "Omprakash!" A man came from inside the kitchen. "Kitni baar bolna padega ki Di ko zyaada kaam na karne do?" (Translation: How many times do I have to tell you to not make Di work?)

"Bhaiya, hum..."

"Jao mera nashta le ke aao." (Translation: Go get my breakfast)

It was then that Khushi realized ASR was taking a seat beside her.

"Khushi, move."

"What?" Khushi looked up.

"You're in my seat."

Khushi shot up. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"Khushi bitiya, aap baithiye. Chhote, mehman hain wo. Aaj aap Anjali ke paas baith jaiye. Manorama, aap udhar jaiye." (Translation: Khushi, beta, please sit back down. Chhote, she's our guest. You sit beside Anjali today. Manorama, move and make space.)

Nani's orders were followed diligently. Now ASR was across her. Khushi felt a sneeze coming. She had been getting them since getting drenched last night.  She covered her mouth as it came on. The sneeze seemed to echo.

"Chhote, tumne dawai nhi li kya?" (Translation: Didn't you take the meds?)

"Di, khana to khane do." (Translation: Let me eat first)

"Haan. Wo hum..." (Translation: Yes, I just...)

Khushi sneezed again.

"Khushiji, aapko bhi zukaam hai kya?" (Translation: Are you also having a cold?)

Khushi looked at Anjali. "Wo kal... baarish..." she rubbed her nose with her dupatta. (Translation: Yesterday it was raining...)

"Acha toh aap bhi Chhote ki tarah bearish mein bheeg gayi thi?" Anjali smiled. (Translation: So you also got drenched like Chhote?)

Khushi looked at Arnav. He was looking at her too. She looked away and sneezed again.

"You also have medicine with Chhote before leaving for office. Okay?"

"Nahi Anjali ji. Hum baad mein le lenge." (Translation: No Anjali ji. I will take later.)

"Hum kuch nahi sun na chahte hain. Chaliye, ab khana khaiye." (Translation: I'm not hearing your excuses. Come, eat your food now.)

Khushi understood who held the reigns of this family. Nani and Anjali. ASR was the backbone, clearly but he had yet to disregard something Anjali ji or Nani ji said.

Once breakfast was done, Khushi was blackmailed into taking the cough and cold medicines. Anjali then handed her the pills for two more doses for the day to have later on, same as she did with Arnav.