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Author's POV:-

“Nahi bhai… maine bohot koshish ki unhe manane ki… par phir se unhone same kaam ka excuse de diya,” Priti sighed, peeking through the slightly open door at her mother.

Her voice wavered as she continued, “She’s crying, bhai… staring at papa’s photo on her phone.”

On the other side, Piyush watched their father, his heart aching at the sight before him.

“Aur yaha papa bhi.…” he whispered, swallowing the lump in his throat. “Mumma ki ek purani saree leke usse hug kar ke so rahe hain.”

Priti turned to him, her eyes brimming with frustration and helplessness. “Kya kare bhai… dono toh bohot ziddi hain!”

Piyush let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “Ziddi hain na? Bohot ziddi hain…”

His lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “Par usse bhi zyada… woh dono ek dusre se bohot pyaar karte hain.”

Priti wiped the corner of her eyes, nodding in agreement. “Woh toh dikh hi rahi hai, bhai…”

A thought sparked in her mind, replacing her sadness with excitement. “Waise… papa aa rahe hain na aapke saath kal café?” she asked, hope twinkling in her eyes.

Piyush smiled knowingly. “Haan… main unhe college se seedha pick up karke le jaaunga.”

Then, with a smirk, he added, “Waise ek kahawat suni hai? Ghee agar seedhi ungli se na nikle, toh ungli teri karni padti hai.”

“Huh?” Priti frowned, confused. “Iska matlab?”

Piyush sighed dramatically. “Teri deemag kya har samay ghaas charane k liye jaati hai?? Kuch samjhti nahi hain seedha” he said, his tone dripping with mock disappointment.

“Aaaa… toh aap samjhao na!!” she whined.

He chuckled. “Abhi phone pe nahi bata paunga… kal café mein bataunga sab kuch.”

His voice held a hint of mystery. “Abhi ke liye soja… Goodnight.”

Priti pouted but nodded. “Theek hai… kal milte hain. Bye, Goodnight bhai.”

The next morning, Anjali woke up earlier than usual.

After freshening up, she made her way to the kitchen with a determined smile, already planning the dishes she had thought of the previous night.

As she busied herself frying golden, crispy aloo tikkis, she felt a familiar presence behind her.

"Mumma?" Priti’s soft voice came from behind her shoulder, startling her for a moment.

Anjali turned with a warm smile and picked up a fresh tikki, blowing on it slightly before feeding it to her daughter.

Priti took a bite and moaned loudly. "Mmmm… bohut tasty bani hai, mummy!" she praised, immediately grabbing another one.

Anjali chuckled and wiped her hands. "Yeh jab jayegi apne bhaiya se milne, waha ek saath khana, samjhi? Aur café ka unhealthy khaana avoid karna".

Priti rolled her eyes playfully, ready to argue, but then her eyes fell on something else on the kitchen counter.

The smile on her lips faded slightly.

A bowl of sabu-daane ki khichdi with aloo ke pakode sat neatly on the side. She knew exactly who this was for.

Trying to suppress a knowing grin, she hopped onto the kitchen counter. "Yeh sabu-daane ki khichdi kis ke liye, mummy?" she asked casually.

Anjali, who was busy packing the tiffin boxes, responded without making eye contact. "Aur kis ke liye hogi? Tum sab ke liye hi toh banayi hai."

Priti smirked, folding her arms. "You do know bhai doesn’t like khichdi at all, right?"

Anjali paused for a moment before murmuring, "Kyu nahi pasand aayegi bhala? Mummy ke haath se bani cheez sabko pasand hoti hai."

That was it. The tiny hesitation, the slight nervousness in her mother’s voice—it was enough for Priti to confirm her suspicion.

Jumping off the counter, she wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist, hugging her from behind. "Seedhe seedhe boliye na ki aap papa, I mean aapke pati parmeshwar ke liye banayi hain," she teased, chuckling.

"Aapko achi tarah se pata hain unhe aapke haath ki khichdi kitni pasand hai!"

A soft blush crept onto Anjali’s cheeks. She immediately swatted Priti’s hand lightly, trying to mask her embarrassment.

"Apni faltu bakwaas band kar aur jaa naha ke aa. Fatafat breakfast karle, nahi toh sab thanda ho jayega," she scolded, but her voice lacked its usual strictness.

Priti stepped back and pouted dramatically. "Aww, dekho toh! Kitni blush kar rahi hain papa ka naam sunte hi!"

Anjali’s eyes widened. "Pritiii!" she called her in a warning tone.

Priti giggled, raising her hands in surrender.

"Acha baba, ja rahi hoon bathroom. Waise bhi aap itna gussa kyun ho rahi hain?" she blinked her eyes cutely before leaving from there.

As she watched Priti leave, Anjali sighed, her fingers gripping the kitchen counter. Her gaze softened as memories flooded her mind—memories of him, sitting at the dining table, eagerly waiting for his plate to be served.

She could still hear his voice, playful yet full of affection. "Bas ek baar tumhare haath ki sabu-daane ki khichdi kha loon, phir pura din achha jayega."

And how could she not make this dish?

It was his favorite. Not just because of the taste, but because it was made by her hands.

Her hands unconsciously caressed the tiffin box she had packed, a bittersweet smile gracing her lips.

In the cozy café, Amit and Piyush sat at a corner table, waiting for Priti. She had already called to inform them that she would be there in just ten minutes, but those ten minutes felt longer than usual.

"Aur ek baar phone kar na Priti ko… dekh kaha reh gayi," Amit said, glancing at Piyush impatiently.

Piyush nodded and reached for his phone to call her again when a sudden voice startled them.

"Papaaaaa!!!"

Amit's head snapped up, and the moment his eyes landed on the little girl standing near the entrance, a wide smile spread across his lips. She runs to him and hug him tightly.

He hugged her back, kissing her head softly.

'Kaisi hai mere bachi' he asked softly caressing her cheek.

'Achu hu papa..aap bataiye apke tabiyat kaise hain??' she asked him.

'Bas chal raha hain..' But even as he spoke, his eyes searched the café, scanning every face, looking for that one person his heart truly longed to see.

Both Piyush and Priti gave a knowing look to each other. They noticing how their father’s eyes wandered toward the entrance every few seconds. He was trying to hide it, but they could see the flicker of disappointment settling in.

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