Chapter – 6
Third Person’s POV
The entire Thakur family were sitting around the dining table. When Mrs. Arti Thakur, grandmother of Rishav, asked Hiya to serve the dish she has made for everyone, Hiya didn’t move. She was just quietly standing there lowering her head. When she again asked her, Hiya replied She has not made anything.
Rishav was surprised to hear this. He has already given her the tiffin box which Ragini, Hiya's bua, had given him to give Hiya so she can present a dish in front of them. He didn’t understand why Hiya is saying this.
Aarti asked her with a little loud voice, why didn’t she complete the ritual by making a dish? Why didn’t she listen to their order?
Hiya was going to say something when a maid entered the dining room with the tiffin boxes Ragini has sent.
Seeing the content inside the box, everyone except Rishav got confused. This time Sonia, Rishav's mother, asked Hiya what was that? When she made kheer then why was she lying?
HIYA : I am sorry, Grandma…I am sorry, aunty. I am not lying. I really haven’t made any dish. This kheer is not made by me.
Hearing this they all looked at Hiya confusingly. Seeing their confused look Hiya continued…
HIYA : It is sent by my bua. I don’t know anything about cooking. She has sent this to save me from embarrassment. But I don’t want to deceive anymor…. I…I mean anyone. I am sorry.
Saying this Hiya lowered her head. She had expected Grandma will scold her and insult her for this. But to her surprise, Grandma smiled and very gently said “ It is fine, dear. I am happy that you didn’t deceive us. Cooking is not a big deal. I also had not known how to cook before my marriage. But eventually, I learned. You will also learn it. Don't worry, it is not a big deal.”
Saying this Grandma left the dinning room following Grandpa, Rishi Thakur.
Hiya was feeling more guilty hearing this. As per her knowledge, Grandma is a very strict woman. Seeing Grandma talking with her so gently, Hiya was feeling very guilty for deceiving them.
Just as the elder Mr. and Mrs. Thakur have left the room, Sonia started reprimanding Hiya.
SONIA : who do you think you are? You are such an ungrateful person! Ragini sent this dish to help you out but you! You are already fooling them, if you had deceived them one more time what would be the problem? There is no need for you to try to impress them or create such an honest, innocent impression in front of them! What were you trying? Are you started thinking of yourself as the real daughter-in-law of this house? Listen carefully, Diya returns in time or not, you will not be my real daughter-in-law. Don't try to act over-smart.
Saying this Sonia left the dining room. Raj, Rishav’s father, looked at Hiya with a little apologetic expression, and then he also left the room.
Tears were falling from Hiya's eyes. Hiya had thought Grandma will insult her for not following the ritual. But she didn’t think Sonia will insult her like this and will think such a wrong purpose behind her action.
She has always noticed that Sonia never likes her. She has no idea what is the reason. What she has done, made Sonia hate her. Whenever Sonia used to visit her bua's house she used to bring many gifts for Diya but not for her. She always noticed her hatred towards her but she didn’t know the reason.
Mr. Raj, Sonia's husband knows the reason and he thinks his wife is very preposterous regarding this matter. But he has nothing to do except give Hiya an apologetic look. He had tried to make his wife understand before but it was no use.
Hiya felt very insulted at that moment. She started crying forgetting about Rishav's presence in the dining room. When Rishav gently called her name, Hiya remembered Rishav's presence in the room. Rishav was going to say something but before he could say anything Hiya left the room stomping her foot. Rishav sighed and rubbed his forehead in distress.