Chapter 20

MuguetDScorpion

@MuguetDScorpion

[NOCOPY]Hello Lovelies,

Sorry for the delay... don't blame me but my vacation plans. 

Not really proud of this chapter but I loved writing Luna's entry in the Chavan Parivaar and of course LunRat. There is not much of SaiRat though, sorry. But will try to add their scenes in the next chapter. Aur Didi ki beizzati toh banti hai. 

Please, don't my the gramatical errors. I really did not have time to re read. 

The Chavans were enjoying Pakhi's Amrit Chai in the living room. The ladies of the house wanted special dishes to be cooked as it was Sunday and Samrat's friend was also coming to the house. Samrat asked them not to worry as he was going to cook his friend's favorite food. Some of them where proud to see a man in the kitchen and some of them made faces.

« Let the ladies cook. Why are you taking tension ? », Ninad said.
« Ninad is right. What will your friend think if the food is not tasty ? », Kaku asked.
« Are we living in the same century ? Come on, it's time to change the mentality. I am going to cook and no one is coming behind me. », Samrat ordered.

He quickly left the place as he didn't want to argue with them. He cooked Luna's favorite Afghani Pulao and a few more dishes she liked. The dessert was already prepared by Ashwini for her son and even the cake was there.

Everyone got ready and he too came down excitedly. Luna showed up soon after, as usual in her professional look. She was wearing navy blue color pants and a blazer of the same color with a white tucked in shirt. The clicking sound of her high heels got everyone's attention. Her silky straight hair were flying with every step she was taking. As soon as she heard Samrat calling her « Moon », she pouted. He smiled and walked towards her. More than a decade of friendship and she still makes the same face when he calls her Moon.

« Meet my friend, Moon. », he introduced her to everyone.
« Luna. », she corrected him punching his shoulder.
« Yes yes Luna D'Costa. », he sighed.

The Chavans weren't fan of her western look nor her friendly behavior with Samrat but she had the aura of belonging to a reputed family. She folded her hand and said Namaste even though she didn't have the same religion.

« Are you related to Lieutenant General Marcello D'Costa ? », asked Ninad.
« Yes. I am his daughter. », she replied bitterly but with a smile.

Ninad and Bhavani's behavior changed immediately and they welcomed her heartily. Samrat introduced all the elders to her. She handed him a bag of pastries she baked herself and everyone got pleased by her efforts. She then went near Mansi and gave her a small jewelry box. Mansi opened it and saw a beautiful pair of earrings.

« Thank you Beta but you shouldn't have. », Mansi was surprised.
« I had to Aunty because since ten years I am asking this gadha to introduce me to you so that we can team up against him. », Luna explained resting her hand on Mansi's shoulder.

Everyone looked at her shocked and she bit her tongue after realizing that not only did she rest her hand on Mansi's shoulder but she also called her son a gadha. She immediately removed her hand but was surprised when Mansi started laughing. This shocked the Chavans too. Samrat was happy to see his mother laugh. He hasn't seen her laugh for so long now. Most of the time she is either serious or sad. He was happy that Luna was the reason of her good mood.

« I am so sorry. », Luna held her ears with apologies.
« What a liar ? Who cancels the plans every time I invite you ? And why do you always want to team up against me ? », Samrat asked resting his hands on his hips.
« Tujhe taang karne ke liye. », she stuck her tongue out at him.
« Ahhhh Moon. », he stuck his tongue out at her while she made faces that showed irritation.

They waited for Virat and Sai before gathering around the table for lunch but as it was already getting late Kaku asked everyone to move to the dining area. Just then Virat and Sai entered the house. Everyone looked at their matching outfits and Sai's sindoor filled forehead. Ashwini and Shivani were happy seeing her in married look. On the other hand Virat and Sai were surprised seeing Luna and greeted her.

« How are you Luna Di ? », Sai asked.
« Oh please Luna Di sounds like Lunedi, Monday in Italian. Call me Luna. », Luna said.
« Or call her Moon Di. », Samrat chuckled.
« Tu na maar khaayega. », Luna shook her head in desperation.

Mohit, Virat, Sai and Karishma started laughing.

« Bohut jaldi hi aa gaye dono. », Ninad taunted Virat and Sai.
« Sorry Baba... », Virat was about to explain.
« So you thought it wasn't necessary to inform us before leaving ? », Kaku asked with an accusing tone.
« Kaku we went away only for one day. It's not our fault if the car broke down. », Virat told her.
« That's what happens when you take a bad luck with you. », Kaku said.
« Hooo Kaku now are you going to blame me for this also ? Why do you love me so much ? », Sai asked sarcastically.
« I don't understand why are we even discussing about this. What's the big deal if we stayed one day somewhere else ? », Virat questioned his family.
« It is a big deal, Virat. We all organized a surprise birthday party for you but you didn't even care to inform us that you planned to spend the night with your wife outside the city. », Pakhi said angrily.
« First of all Pakhi Didi, don't talk to my husband in this tone. And secondly, if we didn't inform you then you also didn't inform us about the party. You could have imformed me, I would have found a way to cancel this trip or ask you to postpone the party. », Sai said firmly.
« Patralekha, what did I say yesterday ? Don't create any drama in front my guest. », Samrat put an end to the drama.

The Chavans and Pakhi didn't say anything else and followed Samrat and Luna to the dining area. Virat and Sai gave the sweet boxes to Karishma and went to wash their hands. They came back a few minutes later and sat in front of each other, he next to Samrat and she next to Luna. Seeing Ashwini and Pakhi serving everyone, Luna reacted.

« Ashwini Aunty and Pakhi, please sit with us. We have our hands, we can serve ourselves. », Luna said.
« Maybe in your culture this is not common but in ours it is... », Pakhi proudly started her mocking before getting interrupted.
« What an old fashioned thinking. It's maybe time to see the world differently. Ashwini Mami please sit with us. Patralekha, please eat with us. », Samrat said.

They obeyed and sat down. Kaku and Ninad didn't like it much but they couldn't say anything. Samrat extended his Afghani Pulao towards Luna who was just sitting in front of him.

« See I won the challenge. Not only did I cook your Afghani Pulao but I cooked all the dishes on the table. Ab tu yeh sab khaa ke dikha. », he challenged her after filling excessively her plate.
« Heeeey, do I look like a dinosaur to you ? », she asked.
« I knew it, you are from Jurassic period. », he teased her.
« Haha very funny. », she rolled her eyes.
« But this is not Afghani Pulao. », Sai remarked.

Luna burst out laughing and Samrat rolled his eyes.

« I am offended Sai. You have brutally insulted my cooking skills. », Samrat faked being upset.
« Let me tell you the story Sai. Years back when we were students he used to cook a lot. One day he cooked something and called it Afghani Pulao. We made so much fun of him that day, pucho maat. », Luna explained
« Bla bla blah. », Samrat made faces.
« It doesn't matter how insulting it was for the actual Afghani Pulao but at least whatever he had cooked it tasted divinely delicious. », she stuck her tongue out at him.
« Pata hai pata hai, I am simply the best cook and that's why you love my Afghani Pulao. », Samrat showed off.
« Ab bas bhi kar gadhe. », Luna smiled and shook her head.
« Chal bey gadhi. », Samrat replied.

Sai and Virat who were sitting facing each other burst out laughing remembering how they call each other bandar and bandarya. Samrat and Luna came out of their usual banter and looked at them. While everyone looked at Sai and Virat questioningly, they couldn't stop their laughter.

« Kya ho gaya ? What did we say that's making you laugh ? », Luna asked Sai, confused.
« You both are so similar. You call Jeeva gadha and she calls me bandar. », Virat stated.
Sai pouted, « Hooo and you Jeeva Shiva brothers are also very similar. You also called me bandarya just like dada called Moon di gadhi. »
« Heeeeyyyy LU-NA. », Luna corrected Sai like a kid.
« High five. », Samrat raised his hand.
« Sorry Moon di... I mean Luna di. », Sai clapped her hand against Samrat's.
« Not fair. You were supposed to be in my team. Girl power you see. », Luna rolled her eyes.

The Chavans looked at them and wondered how the sons of the house happily let two wild women dominate them. Samrat and Virat looked at each other with a smile which disappeared and the awkward atmosphere took place. Luna and Sai felt the tension and tried to change the topic but little did Luna know she chose the wrong topic to talk about.

« How does it feel to be married ? », she asked Samrat.
« Awesome. », he replied sarcastically. « As awesome as you and your father's relationship. », he added.
« Ouchhhh !!! That was mean but you are forgiven. », she finally started eating.
« I am so sorry Moon. », he apologized after realizing that he has hurt her.
« I said na you are forgiven only because we are seeing each other after so long. », she smiled.

Samrat rested his hand on her and apologized again. He knew how badly she was wounded and didn't deserve to be reminded about it. Luna also felt that something was wrong about Samrat. He didn't look happy with Pakhi and his love for his Shiva seemed invisible. Where did that Jeeva Shiva banter he used to mention all the time disappear and where did that happiness of getting married expressed a few months ago on the phone vanish ? She quickly finished eating and then lifted up her plate.

« Challenge won Mr. Salunkhe. There is nothing this Luna D'Costa can't do. », she said.
« It's because my dishes tasted good that you couldn't stop from eating the whole thing. », Samrat said self patting.
« Oh Jesus, save this man from narcissism. », Luna prayed looking up.

Samrat chuckled. Virat looked at them. They had a striking complicity.
Everyone finished eating and went to the living room. Luna conversed with the elders for a while. Pakhi brought the cake and everyone gathered for the cake cutting and a family picture. Luna was standing away but Samrat pulled her just before Mohit could click the photo. When he sent the picture to everyone, Sai noticed how Samrat and Luna looked at each other. She didn't know that Samrat had pulled her and that's why both were looking at each other. Virat looked at the picture and noticed how tightly Sai and his arms were intertwined.

« Belated happy birthday Virat. », Luna wished him passing a Ralph Lauren bag.
« Thank you. », he took the gift surprised, « How do you know it's my birthday ? »
« I was also a topper like your wife. Don't underestimate my brain. I know most of the family members' birthday. », she winked at him.

Virat looked in the bag. It contained a blue color Ralph Lauren polo t-shirt.

« Thank you so much. It's really beautiful. », he thanked her.
« I hope it will fit you. My brain didn't have any information about your size but my eyes usually top in everything. », she self praised her.
« Bappa, save this woman from narcissism. », Samrat commented.

She showed him her hand to tell him « talk to my hand ». While Samrat and Luna started their usual teasing and making fun of each other, Pakhi walked towards Virat and extended him a gift packet. Virat unknowingly felt uncomfortable but he still took it. He unwrapped it and found a book, Mindfulness written by Ellen J. Langer.

« Thank you Pakhi. », Virat thanked her.
« You can forget to gift me on my birthday but I can't. I know how much you love reading so I thought it was the perfect gift. », Pakhi said.
« I am sorry Pakhi, my intentions weren't to hurt you the other day. But what happened that day shouldn't have happened. You were at fault for misbehaving with Sai and I was at fault for ruining your birthday. », he said.
« Not just my birthday but you have ruined my entire life. », she complained.
« What ?... », he was about to retort but got interrupted.
« Pakhi make your special tea, please. We need it. », Kaku said.
« Ji Badi Mami. », Pakhi was about to leave.
« No Patralekha. », Samrat stopped her, « Let Moon make it. She makes the best tea and coffee in the world. »
« Samrat, she is our guest. How can you ask her to make tea ? », Kaku opened her eyes wide.
« Don't worry Badi Aunty, I don't mind it. Now that I am here, it's like my second home. », Luna replied.

Kaku, Ninad, Sonali and Omkar looked at each other unhappily. Ashwini and Mansi smiled happily. Pakhi felt insulted.