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Author's POV:-

'Kisse dhund rahe ho papa?? Mummy ko ?? Mummy nahi aayi mere sath' priti said making him startle.

He quickly shook his getting caught red handed in front of his children making his ear turns slightly red.

'Nahi bas aise hi dekh raha tha..woh sab chor tum dono ne toh kuch khaay nahi honge ..kuch order karte hain hmm?' he asked.

'Nahi nahi papa wait..mummy ne specially apke liye i mean hum sab k liye khana bhizwa di hain..'

she said smiling putting the heavy bag on the table..

Amit's hands stilled, his heart suddenly feeling heavier. "Kya?"

His voice held something unspoken, something fragile.

'Kyaa mummy ne kya banai hain?? Jaldi nikal'  Piyush asked licking his lips.

She chuckles, 'Ruko bhai ek minute'

One by one she put the tiffins box into the table,

"Bhai ke liye—unka favourite aloo tikki, naan, aur chole bhature."

Piyush immediately picked up a plate and took a bite, savoring the familiar taste.

"Mumma ke haath ka jaadu hi alag hai," he mumbled, but Amit wasn’t listening.

His eyes were fixed on the last two tiffin boxes that Priti now placed in front of him.

She looked at him and spoke softly, "Aur yeh aapke liye, papa… Aapke favourite sabu-daane ki khichdi aur meethe mein gajar ka halwa."

Amit just stared at the tiffin, his throat tightening. He didn't thought she will also send food for him. After all these years, she still remembered his comfort food.

His fingers trembled slightly as he opened the lid, and the moment the familiar aroma reached him, something in him broke.

He picked up a spoonful and took a bite. The taste—it was the same. Just like before. The warmth, the comfort, the love—it was all still there.

Before he could stop it, a tear slipped down his cheek, falling into the khichdi.

Priti and Piyush fell silent, watching their father. Amit didn’t speak. He simply continued eating, savoring every bite as if it was the most precious meal he had ever had. As if it was more than just food—it was a piece of the life he had lost. And yet, even in that moment, it felt like he had found something again.

"Kuch kijiye na bhai… nahi dekha ja raha hai ab inn dono ko" Priti whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Her eyes misted as she saw her father subtly wipe his tears before anyone could notice. But she had seen it. She had seen the raw vulnerability, the silent longing in his eyes.

Piyush clenched his jaw, his gaze fixed on their father, who was eating in silence, lost in emotions he wouldn’t voice.

He exhaled sharply and shook his head with determination.

"Ab jo karna hai, hum dono ko milkar karna padega… kyunki yeh dono bohot hi ziddi hain. Yeh khud se toh kuch karenge nahi."

His voice held certainty, resolve.

"Humein hi inko dhakka dena padega" he added, his eyes meeting his sister’s with an unspoken promise.

Priti nods her head.

They had waited long enough. If their parents were too stubborn to bridge the gap, then they would do it for them.

It was evening when Priti returned home. She had barely stepped inside when her mother’s eager voice reached her ears.

"Tere papa ko pasand aayi khichdi? Kya bola unhone? Namak, mirch sab thik tha na? Maine toh sab unki pasand se—"

Priti let out a soft chuckle, cutting her off mid-sentence.

"Mumma, Mumma! Pehle mujhe andar toh aane dijiye! Ya phir yahi darwaze pe sab bata dun??"

Anjali immediately pressed her lips together, realizing how impatient she had sounded. She had been waiting the whole day for this moment, her heart restless to know his reaction.

A light blush crept onto her cheeks as she bit her lip, embarrassed at her own excitement. Without another word, she took the empty container bag from Priti’s hand.

She let her in and ran into the kitchen and hand her the cold glass of water. Anjali, still holding the empty containers, looked at her eagerly, waiting for an answer. But Priti, enjoying the moment, sipping the water slowly.

'Kya batau ?? Papa ne toh pura container hi saaf kar diya khaake ..ek daane tak waste nahi kiya...aapko dhone ki bhi zarurat nahi hain..' she said dramatically making her mother smiled at her words.

"Tasty thi na?" she asked again.

Priti chuckled, shaking her head. "Woh toh sirf papa hi bata sakte hain afterall unke biwi ne jo itne pyaar se banai hain unk liye... hume thodi taste karne diya??"

Hearing this, a deep blush crept onto Anjali’s cheeks, and she looked away, pretending to engage in some work.

It was night when Piyush called her sister to let her know to start the planning..

'Par bhaiya hum agar pakde gaye toh ??' she asked him bitting down her nails.

'Nahi pakrenge pagal..un logo ko abhi kaise pata chalega?hum thode na batayenge ..tu bas apni acting chalu kar ..waha jayega phir pata chalega..aur tab kuch kar bhi nahi payenge' he said laughing.

'Bohut buri tarah se pit jayenge bhaiya!!!!!' she whined, imagining the consequences.

'Kuch nahi karenge...aur do chaar thappad agar par bhi jaay toh seha lenge..akhir unk khushi k liye hi toh kar rahe hain buddhu' he simply laughed.

Hearing his words, Priti sighed, a small smile creeping onto her lips.

"Soh toh hain..jo hoga dekha jayega!!"

Piyush nodded. "Alright then, I’ll hang up now. Call me when it’s done."

"Yeah, I will… bye!" she replied before ending the call.

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