Pick and Mix

hope you've had a great weekend all, hope you like this! 

A game of pick and mix 

I’m sorry Kuki the participant  list for this terms baking competition is full.

Explained Kukis school teacher to Prerna and Kuki who sat across from the teachers desk. 

“Isn't there anything you could do to add Kukis name to the list, It’s her favourite tournament” said Prerna 

“sorry Mrs Bajaj it was first come first serve but Kuki can choose from a list of other tournaments.”

Kuki wasn’t happy she was best at baking, and she always won. She looked at the different bits of paper in front of her all with a name of a tournament and the list of children beneath it. 

She had to put her name on one of them. Kuki looked across the array of of choices. They were all unappealing:

Spelling be

drawing

Dodge ball

Maths champion 

Ballet 

Singing 

Sports personality 

Science champ

and so on

Non of them compared to baking she thought sadly.

….

A icecream on the way home had cheered Kuki up. 

Prerna looked into her rear view mirror at her daughter.

"Are you sure you want to sign up for the chess tournament beta?"

She double checked after Kuki had scribbled her name against the chess.

“Yep, I’m really bad at everything else and you and Pa can teach me right?” She said with bright eyes thinking back to the one time her Pa had introduced the game to her.

Prerna put on a smile even if in reality she knew neither her or Mr Bajaj would be best placed to help kuki learn. 

...

“It’s Sunday Mrs Bajaj” said Rishabh over his glasses and newspaper when he spotted Prerna with the tablet in bed. 

 On the contrary he was sat back comfortably in his night robe at the sofa with the aroma of coffee adding to the early morning bliss.

“I know ..I’m looking for someone who can help teach Kuki chess, she’s entered  the school chess tournament this time around. 

The rustling of newspaper she knew was Mr Bajaj looking at her like he was the obvious solution to her problem. 

“Aap nahin” she said a wife who could read her husbands mind.

“I taught you business didn’t I” he added after the initial surprise.

“Tabhi toh, Your too stern of a mentor”

She said casually  thinking of their little girl. Mr Bajaj lowered the paper again this time paying more attention. 

“You didn’t mention it at the time?” His eyes if she would look into them telling of his interest on the matter. 

“It’s not something you say when you know you’re learning, besides  I was focused on my goal” she said looking at him with the odd glance but mainly focused on her search.

Rishabh  looked on silently with attentive eyes as Prerna continued.

“You knew how to soften the blow and I had Mr Mehras shoulder to cry on.” She said very casually.

Rishabh put down his paper and walked to their beside unexpectedly getting her attention when he sat down close took away her distractions and then looked into her eyes. 

She could see he was still thinking about what she’d just said. Maybe even thinking back to every lesson and wondering which one was a little too tough. Feeling him pull  at the tie  of night robe and wrap his arm around her waste under her nightwear before placing his first kiss at her chest describing this as “My apology”...

....

Kuki had a chess lesson every day after school, for 2 weeks until competition day. Tournament week had arrived and Prerna saw off a happy child to school that morning. Wishing her good luck Kuki left prerna with a excited smile but returned with a frown. 

Kuki had lost round one and this was the first time prerna realised how competitive her daughter was. She didn’t say a word on the way home and ran angrily to her room as soon as they got home. 

Prerna was keen to go after Kuki but Rishabh who was in a meeting with Mehra stopped her.

“Leave her Prerna, loosing is a far better lesson than winning is” he reminded her whilst Prerna looked at him feeling helpless but in agreement.

...

Prerna gave Kuki some time before she looked to visit her room. When she got to the entrance she saw Sneha had already beat her to it. She watched from a far as the duo interacted.

“Kai always wins he wins every year how is that fair,” complained Kuki to Sneha who gave out a random set of words but seemed to understand because she trundled closer to Kuki and gave a the cutest of kisses on the cheek.

...

That evening as Rishabh took a seat in his chair Kuki climbed his lap. “Pa”

“Yes love” He replied looking down at Kuki with fatherly eyes. 

 “Can you teach me chess, so I can win like I do in the baking competition?” Kukis eyes looked at him with a whole lot of hope. 

“Sure” he replied making her smile but he hadn’t finished

“But you have to remember one thing, loosing isn’t a bad thing”..  Kuki listened. 

Now tell me when’s the final round of your tournament he asked 

Tuesday replied Kuki. 

....

As promised Rishabh helped kuki learn how to play a better chess game. Every day after school Kuki met her pa at the chess table.

Did you find out what his favourite prices are ? Asked Risabh from the other side of the chess bored. 

Kuki nodded yes he likes the horse and the king and the rectangle said Kuki innocently making Rishabh smile. 

Okay you go first 

Suggested Rishabh watching his daughter move the pieces around at each of her turns but get stuck. 

After a few minutes he paused. 

“Go and get the toffee jar”  he asked and Kuki slid off her chair to do as she was told.

.. 

Elsewhere in the kitchen Prerna notices Kuki climbing a footstool to reach the toffee jar but knowing she was under the eye of Mr Bajaj let’s it pass. 

..

Kuki carries the jar over carefully and watches her pa sweep away the chess pieces onto the floor. 

Kuki tips over some of her sweets onto the board as asked my her Pa and watches her pa organise them into the different squares on the board.

Kukis problem she couldn’t remember her peices now toffees she knew. 

Rishabh looked at kuki with glowing eyes.

...

Competition day had come and gone Kuki left the school with the biggest smile she’d won! The first thing she did when she hot home was run up to Rishabh to show off her first prize badge. The pair having the sweetest of moments overlooked by Prerna.

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