Kashish's POV

As I walked into the living area, my hands trembled ever so slightly carrying the tray. Kabir sat there, shoulders heavy with exhaustion, beside Riaan Bhaiya and Paridhi Bhabhi, who were sipping their evening coffee.

I placed the tray on the table before him. I had poured all my effort into these pakoras, watching countless recipes, measuring every ingredient with care. It was the first time I had tried something like this, and all I wanted was for him to smile, just once, and say he liked it.

Kabir's eyes fell on the plate. Instead of softening, his expression tightened. "Why did you prepare these pakoras, Kashish? I didn't ask you to. You should have asked me first. I don't eat oily foods on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you don't know my likes and dislikes, then don't try like this."

His voice was firm too firm, cutting the air with a sharpness that stunned me. My throat closed up. I knew he was tired, drained from the day. But so was I. And yet, in that moment, it was only his displeasure that filled the room.

Riaan Bhaiya and Paridhi Bhabhi exchanged a glance. Paridhi Bhabhi reached out, her warm hand pressing lightly on my arm, as if urging me to hold myself together. I swallowed, keeping my voice steady. I would not meet harshness with harshness.

"I understand," I said quietly, leaving the plate untouched on the table. Without another word, I turned and walked upstairs, each step heavier than the last.

Author's POV

As Kashish went upstairs, Kabir was still processing what he had just said to her. The sharpness in his voice still echoed in his own mind, and guilt began to creep in.

Riaan moved closer, his voice steady but disappointed "Kabir, I didn't expect this from you. Would a storm have come if you had eaten those pakoras?"

Paridhi added softly, yet firmly, her hand resting on Kabir's arm "Kabir, this isn't the way. Kashish came straight from her firm to the kitchen and began preparing pakoras for you. It was her first time, she must have put her whole heart into it."

Kabir exhaled deeply, imagining how much effort she must have put into preparing the pakoras. Closing his eyes in guilt, He touched his Forehead with index finger and murmured, 'Yes it's my fault. I shouldn't have spoken to her that way.

Just then, Tanushri, Piyali, and Diya walked in. Their eyes immediately fell on the untouched pakoras lying on the table and Kashish's absence from the room. Tanushri raised her brows. "Kabir did you get upset with Kashish?" Kabir's reply came in a softened tone "Yes"

Diya stepped forward, her voice laced with concern and a hint of reproach "Kabir, you both are newly married. I never thought I'd see a day where I'd have to explain this to you of all people someone so composed, so sensible. Kashish is making so many efforts, learning, adjusting, trying to fit into this huge family. The least she deserves is patience and kindness."

Kabir nodded, guilt heavier in his chest now "Yes Bhabhi, I know I was wrong. I'll go upstairs."

With that, Kabir turned and made his way upstairs, his footsteps heavy with regret.

Kabir's POV

I stopped at our bedroom door, my hand resting on the knob, unsure of how to walk in, how to face her after disappointing her efforts. But I gathered all my courage and opened the door.

Inside, Kashish was gathering her files. I walked closer and softly said, "Kashish I'm sorry."

I expected anger, maybe even tears. But instead, she turned toward me, her eyes calm yet heavy. Now, we stood face to face.

She said quietly, "It's okay, Kabir. I didn't know about your strict diet routine. But snapping at me in front of Riaan bhaiya and Paridhi bhabhi, did that look right to you?"

Yesterday you said you would make sure no one raised their voice at me, and today you raised your voice at me yourself.

Her words stung deeper than I imagined. I admitted, "I'm sorry, Kashish. I was exhausted from back to back surgeries, I lost my temper. I shouldn't have."

She didn't let me escape so easily. Her voice firmed as she continued, "Kabir, I also work, client meetings, site visits, presentations, deadlines. I too get tired. But when I come home, I'm not Kashish Singhania the architect. I'm Kashish  Singhania, the daughter in law of this house, but above all, your wife. If you treat me like this then tell me, where else do I go?"

That line hit me straight in the throat. In that moment, I hated myself for the harshness in my words earlier. I whispered "Kashish, I understand I was wrong. I'll always be there for you, right Infront of you, you will always have me by your side ."

But before I could say more, she cut me short with a small, tired smile. "It's okay, Kabir. Don't apologize again. I understand you were tired."

And with that, she kept her files on study table and walked out of the room, leaving me standing there with the weight of my own guilt.

Author's POV

As Kashish stepped into the kitchen to prepare dinner, her mind went back to the evening incident. She remembered Kabir's strict no-oil, no-spice routine, and how he hadn't appreciated her effort of making pakoras for him. Yet, here she was again, putting his needs first. With quiet determination, she began preparing a light dinner for him soup, mixed vegetable salad, and diet cutlets.

The kitchen was lively. Diya, Tanushri, Paridhi, and Piyali were already there. They didn't bring up the earlier matter, behaving as if nothing had happened, keeping the atmosphere cheerful. Light teasing, laughter, and chatter filled the room, and Kashish too joined in, smiling as if the heaviness inside her heart had never existed.

"Diya bhabhi, I think I'll make paneer chilli today, Ivaan, Yatharth, Alia, and Arohi love it," Kashish suggested with a playful grin.

"Make whatever you want sweetheart," Diya replied warmly adding a bit tease and  keeping her hand on kashish's arms.

Piyali added, "Waise bhi chole toh ban chuke hai ab aur kya banaye?" ("Chole are already made, now what else should we cook?")

"Rajma chawal banate hai," Paridhi chimed in. "Bohot din ho gaye, nahi banaye." ("Let's make beans curry with rice, It's been so long since we last made it.")

Tanushri laughed, "Haan! And Kiara was telling me in the evening, 'Chachi, I want noodles' I promised her I'd make it tonight. So I'll prepare noodles."

"And till then, I'll make fruit custard," Diya said, adjusting her Kitchen Apron.

And just like that, the menu for the night was decided with warmth, togetherness, and the soft bond of sisterhood

Kabir's POV

As I came down to the dining area, I sat at the table. Riaan bhai was on one side, and the chair beside me reserved for Kashish was still empty. My eyes fell on the dining table where a few dishes were already laid out, and the staff kept bringing more.

One by one, I realized most of the oily, spicy dishes being placed were my absolute favorites. Just then, a staff member set down a bland-looking plate of my restricted diet food. And then I saw Kashish walking in with a bowl of paneer chilli, my favorite dish. Made by her hands. And I love the way she makes it.

Was she doing this on purpose? On the very day I'm supposed to be on a no-oil, no-spice diet, she makes paneer chilli?

Before I could process that, I saw Diya bhabhi, Tanushri bhabhi, Paridhi bhabhi, and Piyali bhabhi walking in, and staff coming one after another, each carrying a dish that screamed my weakness. All my favorites lined up on the table, while everyone else dug in with laughter and chatter... and here I was, staring down at soup and cutlets.

My tongue watered, my patience thinned, and in that moment, a voice in my head mocked me 
Kabir, this is what happens when you ignore your wife's efforts.

Author's POV

Just when Kabir was mentally cursing himself, a cheerful voice broke through the air from the other end of the table.

"Kashish bhabhi, what a delicious paneer chilli this is!" Yatharth exclaimed, licking his fork dramatically.

Kabir's expression froze. The dish he had longed, for his wife's hands had cooked it and yet it wasn't on his plate.

Before he could react, Ivaan added with a grin, "Yes, Kashish bhabhi, I want to kiss your hands for this masterpiece"

And before anyone could stop him, the mischievous boy actually darted forward and planted a quick kiss on Kashish's hand. The whole table burst into laughter.

"Badmaash kahika!" Sandhya chided, trying to hide her own smile as everyone laughed harder. (Trouble maker Boy)

Not wanting to be left behind, little Kiara piped up from between Jay and Diya, "Tanu chachi, these noodles are yumm! I want them in my tiffin tomorrow for school!"

Kabir's jaw tightened. His frown deepened as each word landed like a taunt. Everyone seemed to be savoring his favorite dishes, while he sat there, stuck with his bland diet.

And that was how the evening rolled on, the dining hall echoing with laughter, teasing, playful chatter, and Kabir silently simmering in his own restrained hunger

Kashish's POV

After dinner, Kabir and I went back to our room. He was already on the bed, buried in his laptop, while I sat at the mirror, doing my skincare routine. The silence lingered until Kabir suddenly spoke, breaking it with a mock-serious tone.

"Tell me honestly, Kashish did you and all the bhabhis plan this? Making every single one of my favorite dishes exactly on my strict diet day? Or was this some punishment for me getting upset at you earlier?"

I turned from the mirror and faced him, narrowing my eyes with a little smile.
"Well, Mr. Singhania, I only gave you a taste of your own medicine. But unknowingly, today's dinner menu just happened to be full of your favorite dishes. Not my fault, your bad luck."

That made Kabir chuckle. He shut his laptop, set it aside, and walked towards me.
"Kashish," he said softly, "I'm really sorry for earlier."

I exhaled, my tone gentler. "It's okay, Kabir. It happens. But don't forget, you're not the only one who comes home tired. I get tired too."

He gave a small grin, trying to lighten the mood "Fair enough. I'll keep that in mind. But for now, forgive your doctor husband, hmm?"

Just as I was about to reply, a sudden knock came at the door. I glanced at Kabir. "At this hour? Who could it be?"

"I'll check," he said, moving towards the door. He opened it, and to my surprise, a staff member stood there holding a plate of sizzling Chicken Ghee Roast. Kabir took it with a raised brow, muttered a polite "Thank you," and quickly shut the door.

Kabirs POV

 As I took the plate from the staff's hand and stepped back into the room, Kashish's curious eyes instantly found it.

"What is this?" she asked, frowning lightly, her gaze fixed on the sizzling dish in my hand.

I smirked, walking closer. "Come, let's sit."

We both sat on the couch, only an inch of space between us. The aroma of the chicken ghee roast filled the room. I placed the plate on the table and said, "Well, this is my punishment, for not appreciating my wife's efforts and prioritizing my diet over the pakoras she made with so much love."

Kashish tilted her head, lips curling into a soft smile. "Punishment? Kabir, this doesn't look like punishment at all. You're having your favorite meal."

I chuckled, picking up the fork. "Mrs. Singhania, eating oily, spicy food on my strict diet day which I never break, is punishment for me." and besides I remember this being your favorite meal, more than mine,  you especially enjoyed it on our engagement day.

I hesitated for a moment, then held out a piece to her. To my surprise, she didn't refuse. She only raised one perfectly arched eyebrow at me before leaning forward and taking the bite. My chest eased at that simple acceptance. I quickly took my own bite, grinning when I caught her laughing at my antics.

And just like that, the so-called punishment turned into shared laughter, shared food, and a warmth only we understood.

We finished the ghee roast from one plate, one bite hers, one bite mine. When the staff later came to collect the empty dish, Kashish was still smiling, her laughter echoing faintly in the room.

Soon, we switched off the lights and slipped under the covers. That night, sleep came easy, not because we were tired, but because we had ended the day with forgiveness, food, and having each other by our side.

****************************************************************************

Hello Pristians.

So, what do you think, was Kashish too forgiving, or did Kabir's guilt truly melt your heart?

Tell me honestly, if you were in Kashish's place, would you forgive Kabir this easily or make him eat ten pakoras as punishment first? 😅

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