The Stolen Moments

Aalu Parantha

An usual morning at Agarwal's house. But Anand heard an unusual sweet voice humming a song inside the kitchen.

He slowly step inside to check. Naina was there humming a song from movie "Maine Pyar Kiya".

"Naina beta tum", he was surprised to see her instead of Bela.

"Main bhi toh sochu achanak se Bela Ka gala itna sureela kaise ho Gaya", he made fun of his wife and laughed.

But laughter soon turn into scare as his beloved wife just was standing behind him.

"Achha toh main besura gaati hun", she left the kitchen in anger.

"Arre, main toh mazak Kar Raha tha, Bela suno toh....", Anand followed her.

Naina was watching her chachaji and chachiji's  "ruthna - manana".

Her mind already started imagining her and Sameer future romance. She start blushing with the thought, Sameer also will pamper her the way chachaji always pamper chachiji.

"Sara ghee ek hi paranthe mein daal degi", Preeti intruppted between her imagination.

"Haan, muft milta hai na bazar mein", at the very moment taiji entered the house.

"Aur Tu yanha kya Kar rahi hai, Bela kanha hai", she asked Naina.

Chachiji came out after listening taiji's loud voice.
"Ne wah Bela, bin ma ki bachhi se Ghar mein kaam Karwa rahi hai", taiji taunted chachiji.

"Nahi bhabhiji, wo main.....", Before Bela could explain.
Naina told taiji, " taiji ! Chachiji toh roj hi Khana banati hai, Maine socha aaj main Bana dun".

"Khana toh roj main bhi banati hun, apni taiji ke liye toh na socha Kabhi", taiji was even more louder this time.

"Oh Bhai, hum toh Chandan ki Tarah ghis Gaye par kisiko koi farak hi nhi padta", she again started with her dramatic way.

"Arre taiji main Bana deti hun na Aapke Ghar nashta", Preeti offered her help to taiji.

"Yaad hai ek baar pakode banaye the", she reminded taiji how she cooked once.

Taiji also remembered how much mess she created.

"Chaliye, abhi banati hun", Preeti was about to move toward taiji house.

Taiji stopped, " Nahi, rehne de, mujhe kisiki madad nhi Chahiye", she left at once but grabbed few prantha along her.

"Sorry chachiji, meri wajah se aapko itna sunna pada", Naina apologize.
"Tu pagal hai, tune Kitna socha mere baare mein", chachiji kissed Naina's forehead.

"Ab, chhod Baki main Bana dungi", chachiji insist her lo leave.

"Nahi, ab toh main hi banaungi aur ab hafte mein ek baar nashta main banaungi", Naina denied to leave and ready to cook more.

"Chalo hufte mein ek baar toh dhang Ka Khana milega", chachaji muttered.

"Kya", chachiji didn't hear properly.

"Kitna pyar Karti hai tumhari betiyan tumse", he covered his own words.

After chachaji and chachiji left, Preeti while tasting a byte teased Naina, " waise manna padega jijaji ko".
"Aaj unki wajah se sabka Dil pyar se aur muh swad se Bhar Gaya" she praised Sameer.

"Wah, paranthe main Bana rahi hun, aur tareef Sameer ki", Naina halted her aplausement for Sameer.

"Par Bana toh unke liye rahi hai", preeti winked.

Naina started blushing. She indeed making these for him. Aalu prantha was his favourite.

Naina cooked enough parantha but as these were very tasty, it vanished in a blink.

Preeti only took more than four.
Naina again prepared the filling and cooked few more.

Preeti again took two more.
"Kitna khayegi", Naina stopped her.
"Roj roj thode hi bante hai", she evloped.

While leaving for school, Naina was looking at her lunch box. She only had two parantha inside.

Preeti forwarded wrapped paranthas.
"Jinke liye banaye hai unhe hi kanjoosi se khilayegi".

Naina was surprised to see those.

"Mujhe pata tha nhi bachenge, isiliye pehle hi le liye", she explained why she took so many parantha.

"Sabke liye", she showed her Kuch box and few more wrapped extra paranthas.

"Tu Kamal hai", happily Naina hugged her.
"Mujhe pata hai", Preeti smiled and Naina also smiled.