Wednesday 26 August 2015

230. OS 12. A Delicious Theft (Part 3)




HAPPY ONAM!





























Part 3 will be posted here today.

I know. Sabr ka phal meetha hota he!



Part 3


Khushi looked around with pleasure. All the dishes were done and arranged around her in big vessels. A mountain of laddoos grinned at her from a huge thali. Another small silver dish had sugar-free laddoos.


“Finish your prayers, Khushi,” Payal said, her eyes on the clock. “It is time.”


Munna, Krishna and Payal moved to stand near the door.


Khushi took a special silver plate from her bag and served all the dishes on it. Then she placed it at the feet of Devi Maiyya’s idol, near the ghee lamp.


Khushi folded her hands and closed her eyes.





She prayed, ‘Hey Devi Maiyya, here’s the first taste of what we have cooked today. Chak leejiye and tell me how they have turned out.’


She waited for a few seconds.


Then she said, ‘They are good, aren’t they? I knew you would like them.’ She added in a whisper. ‘Anjaliji didn’t want me to make samosas. I insisted. Aapko acha lagta he na? Isliye. I know how much you love them. Anjaliji doesn’t know anything about food or about you.’ Khushi frowned. ‘There is something wrong with her. See how her brother has turned out! Lurking around the kitchen to steal our bijjnijj secrets!’ She frowned more ferociously. ‘The house seems big and Anjaliji can’t even walk straight, carrying around her big diamond necklace with stones as large as laddoos. Aap ko pata he, she limps in an effort to carry it. Sachi. They seem rich. Then why is he trying to steal my secret? Why does he want to steal from our thali?’ Her eyes widened. ‘Hey Devi Maiyya, I am so stupid. This is how he made his money! By stealing secrets from people like me. Khushi, be careful. He will try to get the secret out of you. Don’t give in, be strong. You are an Indian nari, the descendant of Rani Laxmi bai of Jhansi. Remember that!’



“Khushi, it is time,” Payal reminded her.






“Yes, Jiji,” Khushi replied. She turned to Devi Maiyya. ‘I forgot to ask you for the most important boon we want. Devi Maiyya, stay with us as always. Keep your hand over our heads, give us sharan. May our food be healthy and tasty, may the diners chak their fingers and ask for more. Remember that we use only desi ghee, Devi Maiyya. May our bijjniss grow in leaps and bounds. May Jiji be known as Kheer Kumari of Lucknow and me as Jalebi Rani of Lucknow. That is our binti, Devi Maiyya. Please grant us our wish. And haan, please take care of Munna and Krishna. Let there be no accidents while we cook. Keep them healthy and happy. Chalti hoon. I have to take the laddooos to the big idol they have kept in their pooja room and set the dishes.’



“Ho gaya, Khushi?” Payal asked.



“Yes, Jiji. One moment. Let me do the last tadka,” Khushi said.


She quickly walked to stand before the dishes laid out for her. She blew a flying kiss at the dishes and then with her hands, quickly warded evil eyes from her cooking and pressed the knuckles above her ears.



“Take them, Munna, Krishna,” Khushi gave permission.


The boys carried the heavy vessels into the dining hall and placed them on the tables set for them.


Payal and Khushi carried the thali of laddoos and placed them before Devi Maiyya’s idol. They returned to the kitchen and Khushi picked up the small silver dish of sugar-free laddoos.


She frowned. “Jiji, who eats sugar-free laddoos here?” she asked.


“Anjaliji’s brother, I think,” Payal said absently, looking at the messages on her phone. “She or Naniji mentioned that he is diabetic. Khushi, keep the laddoos before Devi Maiyya and come fast. Happyji has sent a message. He is here with our van. We have to clean the vessels before loading them onto the vehicle.” She moved to the sink to start on the soiled pots and pans.


Khushi looked at the laddoos, tempted beyond her control. What if she sprinkled chilly powder on the laddoos? It would teach that arrogant, This-is-my-house Raizada a much-needed lesson. How dare he look at her dishes? How dare he try to steal from her?


Khushi looked at Devi Maiyya. She had a gentle smile on her face and her eyes were kind.


Khushi sighed. ‘You never let me do naughty things,’ she complained. ‘Aap hi kahiye, doesn’t he deserve chilly powder on his laddoos?’


She waited for Devi Maiyya to answer.


‘Not even a little?’ she asked, disappointed. ‘One pinch? Please? Don't break my heart.’


She waited again.


‘Ok, if you say so. How can I fight with you? If you say no, then no it is,’ she gave in. She paused for a moment and then said, ‘You are right. He may be a thief but he is diabetic. He has to eat healthy. And I am a cook, entrusted with the responsibility of filling empty stomachs with nutritious, hot food. I shouldn’t play with food, shouldn’t cause harm to another with my food. My calling is greater than such petty thoughts.’ She closed her eyes, feeling a halo circle her saintly head as a result of such high thinking and generosity of spirit. ‘I am above such cheap harkats,’ she claimed.



She carried the dish to the poja room and placed it by the thali at Devi Maiyya’s feet.


Then she returned to the kitchen and began to work with Payal, Munna and Krishna to clean up.



Finally they were ready to leave.


“Jiji, did Anjaliji give you the cheque for the remaining amount?” Khushi asked.


“No, Khushi. She said she will bring it when we are done,” Payal replied. “Munna, Krishna, call Happyji for help and load the van.”


The boys left.



Khushi went to take her chef’s cap from the peg she had hung it from and found that it was missing. The chilly mala hung there in solitary splendour.


She stared at the peg for a full minute, blinked and then stared some more. Then she called, “Jiji?”


“Yes?” Payal asked.


“I am not dreaming, am I?” she asked slowly. “That peg doesn’t have my cap, does it?”


Payal gave a cursory glance at the peg. “No, it doesn’t,” she replied.


“Jiji, I hung it there,” Khushi insisted.


“Must have fallen down,” Payal muttered, looking for Anjali’s number in her phone.


“No, it is not on the floor,” Khushi said, her voice strained.


“Maybe it fell in the nimona,” Payal said with a smile.


Khushi grimaced. “No, the dishes were placed away from this corner,” she said.


“Anjaliji, we are ready to leave. Kindly send the cheque with someone,” Payal spoke into the phone.





Khushi looked at the peg. ‘He must have taken it. Who else would steal my cap? Chor kahin ka! I should have emptied a whole bottle of chilly powder on the laddoos meant for him,’ she thought.


Payal listened quietly to Anjali’s reply and then said, “Fine.” She cut the call and spoke to Khushi.


“Go up the steps to Arnav Singh Raizada’s room. He has signed the cheque and is waiting to give it to you. He wants to discuss a contract with you. They want us to do the catering for all their poojas,” Payal told her.


Khushi clenched her fists. Her cap! Her beloved cap! She would show him. She turned her head to look at Devi Maiyya and begged her forgiveness. ‘I know you expect better of me, but I can’t take this. My cap. How dare he! My khoon is boiling. I will kill him with my bare hands today. Devi Maiyya, bless me. Make me as strong as a pehelwan, as muscular as Bittu pehelwan in the akhada near our house. I am going for a battle with a thief to claim what is rightfully mine.’


Devi Maiyya smiled.





Khushi marched up the steps to the top floor. She stood undecided for a moment. There were too many doors.


Then she saw an elderly man exiting a room, shutting the door carefully after himself.


“Is he inside?” Khushi asked, foaming at the mouth.


“Ji?” Hari Prakash stood with his hands folded at the sight of the angry Devi without her white cap.


“Is Arnav Singh Raizada in this room?’ Khushi asked, impatient to get her hands on his cheating body, especially his neck.


“Yes,” HP stammered.


Khushi walked past him at the speed of light. HP blinked.


She knocked on the door, struggling to keep herself from banging on it.


“Come in,” came his husky call.


She pushed open the door with both hands and burst into his room to see him sitting on a pale green recliner before a laptop.


Her white cap was lying on the table by his laptop.


Khushi’s anger grew in leaps and bounds till she saw red.


He lifted his head to study her at his leisure.


“Yes?” he asked as if he had no idea who she was.


Khushi ground her teeth till she was in danger of becoming toothless.


“You!” she bit out. “You chor, thief, crook, pickpocket, burglar, poacher Singh Raizada!”


He lay back, crossing his hands under his head. His amused eyes scanned her from top to bottom. How good it felt to be the sole recipient of all her anger, he thought.


“Return my cap to me, you bandit,” she demanded.



“Come and take it,” he invited, his eyes dancing at her fury. Her vocabulary was excellent, he mused.


Khushi marched up to his table and bent to take her cap.





His hard fingers latched onto the satin soft skin of her arm.




“Now how will you escape me, Khushi Kumari Gupta, Lucknow’s chef?” Arnav asked softly, his eyes on the creamy skin revealed by the gaping neck of her suit.





80 comments:

  1. Happy onam Smita!! Yep ure rite sabar ka phal meetha hota hai ;-) But Pls try to post soon

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  2. What wonderful pics. Happy Onam to you and your family. Eagerly anticipating your update.

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  3. Just had Ona Sadya and sat down to relax. Thought i would check your site and viola! !!! - an awesome update.
    Hydsri

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  4. Just had Ona Sadya and sat down to relax. Thought i would check your site and viola! !!! - an awesome update.
    Hydsri

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  5. Thank you for another fabulous update smitar

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  6. Happy Onam Smita... Fabulous update....

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  7. Happy Onam Smitaji.
    Aap aa gayi ? Aur woh bhi itna budhiya plotwa laike!!!! You are awesome you know that right !!! Achchha itti budhiya updates ke liye r raha humaar aurse tohfa.....kisses hugs n love woh bhi bahut saara NK.

    Arnav babua ne jo bachpan mein bhi nahi kiya woh karne ka Mann hua..!!! Haaye ni Khushi ..lol

    Iss mein Khushi ki sanak ne bhi bhaang pi rakkhi hai kya ?....

    Arnav babua topi chor ho gaye haaye re....re Khushi tu kya kya karvayegi iss Chikne chor se ;)

    Waise hum sochat hai ki DM ko ek jhola bhar ke popcorn prasad ke roop me de hi de ...hi hi

    Khushi's prayer time n her talks were beautiful n very cute scene of this update.

    Waiting eagerly for next part.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, DM has front row seat for K's nautanki. Popcorn to banta he.

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  9. happy onam to u and ur family...
    amazing, funny, hilarious,sanki,naughty update...hahahahaah..i loved the last part of trapping khushi in his room...hahahaahahahaha..lovely update..........thanks for the update

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  10. Happy Onam dear Smita. That pic of Onam Sadya looks delicious. Fabulous update by the way

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    Replies
    1. Happy Onam, Syamala dear! Yes, busy preparing the dishes. Have guests tomorrow for lunch.

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  11. Happy onam once again smita. Loved the update.
    Seems more interesting. Eager to know what arnav ia about to do. She is full naughty isinit she???
    Will be eager to know more

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    Replies
    1. Happy Onam, my dear. Yes, K is naughty and A is betaab. Dekhte hein!

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  12. Loving it so far, can't wait to see wat he will do!!!!!!!

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  13. I loved her monologue with her goddess ,he does not knowing but his life is going to become haywire because of a human tornado called khushie ,happy Onam to you .

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    1. Yes. He has no idea that he has caught the arm of a tigress. Thank u, my dear!

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  14. Happy Onam Smita. OMG, this Khushi is unbelievable. She can defeat a mere person just using her words :-). I loved the way she asked Devi Mayya whether she can add some chilli powder in Arnav’s laddoos.

    Nice story. I am eager to know what will Khushi say to Arnav now. Nicely written Smita.

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    Replies
    1. Thank u. Beating Khushi is difficult. When she comes as a package with DM, defeating her is impossible.

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  15. Happy onam once again smita. Absolutely loved the update. What is ASR planning?

    Looking forward to next update.

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    2. Thank u, my dear. What is ASR planning? Only ASR & DM know.

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  16. HappyOnam!

    This is a hilarious chapter. Khushi's talk with Devi Maiyaa and Payal is so patient with Khushi and the reminders interspersed in between .

    She actually wanted to put a whole bottle of chilly on the ladoos for the diabetic patient. Just because she thinks he has taken her chef hat.

    Oh oh! And now he has caught hold of her arm... I cannot wait for your next chapter!

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    Replies
    1. Thank u, my dear!

      ASR has just caught hold of a tigress. Dekhte hein!

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  17. Awesome chapter..............loved khushi's monologue with devi mayya........

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  18. for me the highlight of the update is khushi thinking Anji limps coz she cant carry the weight of her heavuy diamond necklace:-)) lol hope she doesnt blurt tht in front of the chor raizada:-))

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  19. Happy onam Smitha!!! Aww that was festival worthy update which was filled with yummy food lol!! Khushi is too much :-)

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  20. I don't celebrate it, but Happy Onam to you Smita! Hope you were able to spend it with your loved ones. ANY celebration spent with family is the best!!

    LOVELY update! Glad to se patakha Khushi in action... And I'm sure that there's more coming from her too. :-) Chor Arnav is the best! Would love to see more of him in action too. :-D

    Eagerly looking forward to the next update- especially Since u ended with that arm grab. Wonder if Chor Arnav will grab anything else. LoL! ;-) My chichori mind is getting active again!! Hehe..

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  21. Happy Onam Smitaji...Hrudayam niranja onaashamsakal..
    Sadya okke ready aayo?..

    Khushi found the thief ;)
    Now wait and see,no experience the repercussions of your action,Mr Raizada :D

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  22. Happy Onam Smita!

    Wonderful start of interesting story.. Khushi doubting Arnav Singh Raizada to be robbing her bijjnijj secrets.. only Khushi can have such doubts.. Arnav is amused and is enjoying.. loved the start.. Awesome..

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  23. wow superb update loved it can't wait for next part thank you........ameena671

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  24. omg.. this is going to be one rocking SS.... loved it..

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  25. Wonderful update smitaji.... loved khushi's talk with DM....what is arnav planning to do with angry khushi....

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  26. Wonderful update smitaji.... loved khushi's talk with DM....what is arnav planning to do with angry khushi....

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  27. Superb update
    Khushi is just too much of a drama queen...
    Loved it

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  28. Classic...waiting eagerly for what's next...Fantastic ..Khushi is tooo cute!

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  29. Happy Oman to you too..lovely pictures :)))

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  30. Hey Smita when are you planning to update next part of this deliciously yummy story?

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    Replies
    1. Very busy. Will get back to you soon.

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    2. Hope everything is alright. Will wait For you to update.

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    3. Just run off my feet. Will get back soon.

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  31. Eagerly waiting for the next update dear...

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  32. Waiting for delicious update...

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  33. Waiting for delicious update...

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  34. Hi Smita, It's been a while since you have updated. I hope everything is alright with you and you are in good health. Meanwhile, the haunting continues.....

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  35. Where r u yr? R u OK? M really worried now. U never to so much time to update. Plz rply.

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    Replies
    1. Sorry. Terribly busy. Will update today.

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    2. Glad to know you are alright. We understand that Asli Duniya can be a pain in the neck. Take care dear Smita

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    3. Thank u, my dear. Life has been hectic for a couple of weeks!

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  37. Hey smita hope everything is alright....
    Waiting for your update

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  38. Hum intezaar karenge tera kayamat tak....
    Khuda kare ke kayamat ho, aur update aaye ;-)

    Missed this place, Smi. So, so glad to be back home. <3

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