Chapter-40|•|

Chapter dedicated to Ishachoudhary497 Thank you for this immense love towards Abhi and Situ and their roller coaster ride.

Enjoy reading!

I love your friend more than anyone can

Author's POV

At night,

"What special is made for dinner today?" Asked Dhruv rubbing his palms sitting on the chair dining chair.

"Panner butter masala, butter naan, fish curry and rice," Said Sakshi.

"Chicken biryani too" sang Sitaara coming inside the dining room with the bowl.

"All are my favourites and Peddha mommy (father's elder brother's wife/aunt/Badi ma) is a pro at doing them," said Dhruv grinning turning his plate.

"Yes, am a pro at them but I didn't make it," said Sakshi.

"Then who made it?" Asked everyone secretly hoping it shouldn't be Sitaara. Sakshi grinned.

"My beloved Dil, Sitaara Abhimanyu," said Sakshi cheerfully.

"Hell! No" shouted cousins except Akash and Preethi.

"What happened?" Asked Akash cluelessly.

"God! She sucks at cooking. She is a horrible cook" said Aarya. Sitaara pouted.

"Last time when she made dinner, Dhruv was almost admitted to hospital because of her food," said Abhi. Sitaara punched on his biceps.

"It's not because of my food, his girlfriend made food for him which he ate," said Sitaara.

"What about Naman who looked like a corpse, frozen after he ate your recipes?" Aksed Abhi raising his eyebrow. She was about to reply but she remembered her resolution which made her move away from him.

"This time it turned out best. Try it" said Sitaara pleading with everyone.

"Vadhina (sil) I need to take this work call" saying Naman went away.

"Situ, Arjun and Vikram are coming here tonight for a stayover, I need to arrange a room for them, I'll look into it," said Aarya and ran away.

"My dear best friend, actually I forgot to make a review on the case and submit it to my boss please excuse me," said Dhruv and left without waiting for her.

"Situ Vadhina(sil), Ishitha must have woken up, she will be cranky and would need to persons to handle her, so I and Ani are excusing ourselves," said Aastha and dragged Anish with her.

"Vadhina, I need to attend a virtual seminar which is happening now, I'll join you guys after some time," said Disha sweetly and went away. Akash and Preethi too followed them realising how bad Sitaara is at cooking.

Everyone eyes turned to Abhi. He looked at Sitaara who had a frown on her face and he laughed nervously trying to get up from the seat and next thing Sitaara did was shocking both of them.

"You aren't going anywhere without tasting my food" she yelled running to him and sitting in his lap before he gets up. She served in the plate and mixed curries with rice and turned to him without getting off his lap. She brought a morsel to his mouth. He had tears in his eyes, blinking them away he opened his mouth as Sitaara fed him.

"Tell me, isn't it delicious?" She asked. He smiled staring at her without blinking his eyes.

"Out of your fantasy world, Mr Abhimanyu Chowdary," she said flicking his forehead.

"When you are in front of me I don't need to land in the fantasy world as you make me fantasize you in every way," he said smirking wrapping both his hands around her petite figure.

"That's so cheesy!! Dhruv must have taught you" she said giggling and feeding him.

"It's delicious," he said.

"Really? Huff!! Finally, I made it. Let me taste it" she said and was about to eat he pulled her hand to his mouth and took it in his mouth.

"I don't want you to eat what served for me," he said. She rolled her eyes.

They heard throat-clearing making them aware of elders presence. Sitaara looked at them and saw them smiling at her teasingly, then she realised she sat in Abhi's lap. She immediately stood up and was about to move away Abhi held her hand. She turned to her.

"Won't you feed me the remaining food?" Asked Abhi. She smiled sadly and freed her hand and ran to their room.

She sat on a swing crying burying her face in her knees which are drawn closer to her chest.

"Am sorry, Raj. I am cheating on you. Please don't forgive me. I...I... don't.... *sobs* I am not even able to form words, I feel ashamed. I gave him the lead to touch me. It was my mistake. It encouraged him. I feel to kill myself for doing that, Raj Am not loyal to you and our love...right? Am sorry!!" She whispered and laid on her head back words remembering her past.

Flashback

"Do you think her trail this time turns fruitful?" Whispered Aarya to Ishaan looking at Sitaara's back hiding behind the kitchen wall.

"I don't know if she gets succeed or not but I do know something" he whispered back

"And what is that?" Whispered Arjun.

"Viru bhaiyya is gonna become the scapegoat of her experiments," said Ishaan. They chuckled silently.

"Arjun jiju, look at her, she isn't chopping the vegetables, she is murdering them mercilessly" whispered Samaira.

"Hope my kitchen won't blast today," said Vindhya.

"Will you guys stop whispering? It's distracting me from my work" yelled Sitaara without turning back.

"Bhabhi we must appreciate the way you are chopping the vegetables," said Samaira sarcastically.

"Really? Am trying my level best. Thank you for complimenting me" said Sitaara flashing her beautiful smile not getting Samaira's sarcasm.

Aarya, Arjun, Ishaan and Vindhya facepalmed at her.

"Situ beta, let me-"

"No ma! Am fine, I don't need your help. Raj taught me this many times. Let me surprise him by making it on my own. This would be the best surprise on his birthday" said Sitaara grinning and swaying her hips in happiness thinking of Viraj. Vindhya and others nodded nervously and left the kitchen.

After some time, Vikram and Viraj entered home with many sweets and return gifts for everyone as it was Viraj's birthday.

"Ma...I am feeling damn hungry. Serve me something" yelled coming inside and throwing the bags on the couch. Vindhya smiled nervously making him confused.

"What happened? You all seem tensed" said Viraj furrowing his eyebrows.

"It's not tension, caveman. It's excitement, my birthday boy" said Sitaara coming out of the kitchen. He grinned like an idiot looking at her. She ran to him and jumped on him throwing her hands around his neck and legs around his torso. He somehow maintained his balance and hugged her petite figure.

"Happy Birthday Mr Sehgal," she said joining their foreheads.

"Thank you, to-be-Mrs Sehgal," he said and traced his nose on her cheeks. She giggled.

"Seems like you prepared something for me..hmm?" He asked. She nodded her head vigorously.

"Shahi paneer, butter naan and Hyderabadi dum Biryani?" He asked. She nodded her head vigorously. He saw everyone behind him swaying their hands vigorously in the air trying to say 'no'.

"I did exactly how you taught me. Btw, how did you guess it?" She asked.

"Because since years of our relationship I taught you only them as you never tried to move on from them," he said chuckling.

"Raj" she whined.

"I was kidding! You smell like paneer and butter" he whispered huskily sniffing in her neck nuzzling his face there. She laughed as his stubble tickled her neck.

"Stop it! Let me serve you" she said getting on her feet. He nodded. She went to the kitchen and placed all the dishes on the dining table which can accommodate only 4 four people.

He looked at others who were giving him a 'don't eat and fall yourself in trouble' look. He smiled at them and sat on his chair.

Sitaara served him and sat beside him on the chair placing her chin on her palm with her elbow on the dining table. She smiled as he started eating.

"It's really delicious, Taara," he said. But she didn't respond.

"Taara..." he called.

"You are very handsome, birthday boy," she said smiling looking at him.

"I know that pumpkin. Finally! Am glad you noticed it, you always call me caveman and see, today you called me handsome" he said smirking and resumed eating.

"Don't flatter yourself, you still look like a caveman. My caveman" she said. He chuckled.

"It's delicious. Finally, my hard work paid off after years" he said.

"Thank you. Come on feed me some. I want to taste it" she said.

"Birthday is mine and let me eat them. I won't let anyone including you eat what you made for me with love" he said possessively as usual. She smiled seeing how excitedly he is eating.

He almost completed and was drinking water, Arjun came to him.

"Is it really delicious, Viru bhaiyya?" Asked Arjun. Viraj nodded.

"You wanna eat?" He asked. Arjun nodded.

"You didn't let me eat but you are allowing him" complained Sitaara pouting.

"Now, I ate my part... right!! That's why am letting him eat" said Viraj nervously and served for Arjun. Sitaara turned away. Arjun stuck out his tongue at her. Viraj smirked internally.

Arjun being a foodie, attacked on food like a man starving for ages. He dipped naan in shahi paneer and placed it in his mouth and he froze.

*5 seconds*

*10 seconds*

*15 seconds*

He ran to the washbasin and spitted out everything making Sitaara frown and he washed his mouth thoroughly.

"For god sake sitaara, stop your experiment right away. God!! It was horrible! My taste buds are dead with just a single morsel. Did you see the naan? It is like a wooden stick, our college canteen provides much better naan. And paneer? It's utter gross!" Shouted Arjun. Tears welled up in her eyes. Viraj glared at him and he was about to hit Arjun, he looked at Sitaara whose face fell.

She picked up the dishes and went to the kitchen. She dumped them in the dustbin and was washing her hands, a pair of hands encircled her tiny waist and a chin was rested on her shoulder. She leaned back placing her hands on his which are on her stomach.

"Why did you eat when it sucks? Arjun puked out with just a single morsel but you ate the whole plate" she said as tears ran down her cheeks.

"He only tasted the food you prepared but I tasted the love you added in it. Pumpkin, you never stepped into the kitchen in your entire life for cooking except for serving. Though the kitchen is a haunting place for you, you stepped into it and tried learning dishes for me and you made it today with so much love though it didn't turn out good. But it does not bother me because all I care about is your love and your efforts to make me happy which you aced with no doubt" he said.

"But you shouldn't have eaten like that," she said stubbornly.

"Let me get habituated, baby," he said chuckling. She slapped his mouth turning to him and came out of his grip.

She served for herself the little which left and started eating.

"Pumpkin what are you doing? Stop eating or else you may have digestion problems" said Viraj.

"Let me taste the love I added it for you. I should know how much intense my love is for you...right" she said.

"For that, you don't need to eat this. Look into my eyes which are reciprocating the same thing you are having for me," he said.

"You should start a cheesy lines book," she said giggling and eating. He chuckled and kissed her forehead.

The next day, both Sitaara and Viraj was taken to hospital due to stomach upset.

Flashback ends.

Tears rolled down her cheeks with a beautiful smile on her lips.

"I don't know if I've to cry for making me go through this pain or smile for giving me the best memories to cherish all my life every second of it" She whispered looking at the sky as a sob escaped from her mouth.

*

Dining hall

Abhi was eating what Sitaara served him without a word.

"Is it really tasty Abhi?" Asked Aman and Suman. He nodded smirking internally. They grinned and served for themselves turning the plates. They both kept a morsel in their mouths excitedly and they froze just like Arjun in Sitaara's past. They both ran to the washbasin and puked everything cleansing their mouth.

"How are you eating it Abhi? Leave it or else you may end up with stomach upset" said Aman.

"How am I eating? Just like you ate mom's recipes when she cooked for you in the early days of your marriage. Just like you tasted her love for you, just like you didn't want mom to be discouraged and upset, am doing the same. Except for the time, nothing changed" said Abhi while eating.

Everyone smiled at his love for Sitaara.

"You love her a lot, don't you?" Asked Aarya and Arjun standing near the Dining entrance. He smiled nodding his head.

"I love your friend more than anyone can," he said.

Aarya and Arjun looked at each other in shock.

"I love your friend more than anyone can"

Viraj's exact words rang in their ears.

Abhi completed his plate and washed his hands.

"I already placed an order from the restaurant. Food is on the way" he said wiping his hand with a napkin and leaving to their room.

He saw sitaara sitting on a swing alone looking at the stars. He called her going towards her but she seem to be lost in thoughts to acknowledge his calls.

"Taara" he called again a little louder. She turned to him wiping her tears and smiled at him.

"What are you doing here? Come inside" he said but she didn't move from her place. Sighing he sat beside her but maintained the distance.

"Answer me honestly, food was horrible right?" She asked breaking the silence. He kept quiet.

"I got my answer. I know I can never cook delicious food in my life. You didn't have to eat when it sucks" she said.

"I didn't eat the food you prepared but I tasted the love, affection and efforts you added in it to make us happy. From what I saw I guess, I don't think you ever stepped into a haunting place like a kitchen for cooking. I didn't want to discourage you, Taara. Not everyone succeeds at initial attempts themselves. Everyone is unique and have their talent. You are good at everything except cooking and few are good at only cooking. It varies. You don't need to discourage yourself from the mere cooking thing. You will learn it soon" said Abhi while she was looking at him shock wondering why does she feel everything similar in him and Viraj.

"Don't look at me like that, it's crawling me out" he said looking front. She averted her gaze.

"I am not looking at you," she said and got down the swing. Before he could ask something, she was out of the room. He frowned but let it go.

Everyone had their dinner and are in the living room while Sitaara was in the kitchen arranging plates and other utensils in stands to distract herself from the earlier happenings. Her phone rang and it was Mridula. Sitaara lifted the call and put it on speaker as she is working.

"Hello amma," she said.

"Did something happen with you, Situ?" Asked Mridula making Sitaara shock.

Mother instincts!!

"No! Why do you ask that Amma?" She asked.

"You never call me 'amma' unless you are upset about something. Spill out the beans. Did anyone trouble you?" Asked Mridula.

"Nothing happ-"

"Don't, Sitaara. I absolutely hate it when someone lies. You know that and don't try to fool me. Am your mother, if am not with you, it doesn't mean that I can't understand what's going on with you" shouted Mridula from another end. Sitaara sighed and narrated what happened between her and Haritha.

"Sitaara, is that how you behave with your guest? She isn't a guest even, she is your Fil's sister. How can you talk to her like that? How can you behave a spoilt brat, Sitaara?" Shouted Mridula.

"Mummy, she called us gold diggers, she taunted our family's upbringing pointing out Sisira akka's eloping, she pointed at yours and daddy's upbringing. How can you expect me to sit calm and listen to everything? Everything has a limit. I never told about her behaviour to you people till today, I never snapped at her even when she taunted me the moment I stepped into this house, not even when she called my husband street dog and me a bitch, not when she insulted me and my husband in front of everyone the very next morning of our marriage, instead of teaching Preethi to not to hit on my husband anymore, she shouted at my Abhimanyu, my Mani but I never spoke anything. I snapped only because she disrespected my family, if she didn't, I wouldn't even snap at her even if she called me with many other disgusting names" said Sitaara on phone frustrated at her mother scolding at everything.

"I didn't ask you to sit calm and listen to her, Sitaara. She is elder to you and you should never disrespect them even when they are wrong. If she scolded you and us, you should have approached us through love that would bring change in her opinion towards us, Sitaara. Now, you truly disrespected us and failed our upbringing. Remember, Sitaara, when you still respect and love a person acknowledging his presence who doesn't deserve in actual, there lies your values and morals" said Mridula.

"Values and Morals my foot! Am not a good woman. Even I have a bad side. I can't walk on the path laid by crushing my self-respect just because I've to feed my morals. Am done listening to your preachings, mummy. Bye" said Sitaara harshly and hung the call. Sakshi who heard it felt bad for Sitaara.

"As a mother not wanting her child to face hatred from her in-laws family, she is true, Sitaara. She doesn't want others to badmouth about you, Sitaara. Put yourself in her shoes, you would understand why she was against you. But since I faced the same thing I can't say you have done something wrong because you didn't. When things don't go well with our kindness we need to step into their path and teach them and come back to our old selves. Am proud that you stood for your family and Abhi stood for you which I and Aman didn't, even once" said Sakshi. Sitaara looked at her blankly and resumed her work.

Later, Sitaara gave tablets to Abhi's grandparents and massaged their feet as the doctor told. Shekhar smiled at her.

"You are lucky to have a Dil like Sitaara, Aman. Girls these days feel like their self-respect is ripped off if they touch elders feet but look at her, she is a very kind, down to earth, humble girl. From what I have seen I can say she never takes ill things at her both families. Even after being highly educated, coming from a billionaire family and married to a billionaire, she is doing all the things a normal girl would do. I saw her talking to Akash about business points which impressed me a lot. Today my belief that 'everything happens for our own good' became strong. Sisira ran away but Sitaara became dil of this house. Maybe that was meant to happen but you guys took a wrong step and God made Sisira elope" said Shekar to Aman looking at Sitaara from far. Aman smiled.

"First I asked Dev for Sitaara's hand to Abhi but he was reluctant. Firstly, he didn't want his niece's life to get affected because society throw taunts at Sisira if Sitaara get married before her as she is younger than Sisira. Secondly, Dev told Sitaara made clear that she won't want to marry. She used to make a fuss just like Abhi whenever her marriage topic was raised. Thirdly, he wasn't ready to send his daughter away as she was away from home for straight 6 years because of her studies" said Aman looking at Sitaara.

"But she is a gem, Shekhar. She adjusted with everything and never complained about anything. After her arrival, the whole mansion turned jovial than before" Aman added and smiled.

"I hope my Akash get a wife like her. He is still hung on that girl Sneha who left him in his college days. He is still searching for her all over the world for 7 years and travelling across the globe in the name of business trips" said Shekar sighing and looking at Akash who was laughing with Abhi.

"Just now you told you to believe everything happens for a good cause, then consider it even now. Everything will be fine. Sneha is not far away from him. He almost reached her" said Aman smiling leaving Shekhar shocked.

"Our Akash is gonna find his girl and happiness soon" saying Aman left.

Sitaara was talking to Shekar, Vikram entered. She ran to him shouting his name. He opened his arms and twirled her hugging her.

"They met recently yet behaving as if it's been years he met her. Bastard. He is touching my wife" mumbled Abhi looking at Vikram who is talking to Sitaara. Anish patted his shoulder chuckling.

"Sitaara" he called loudly making her turn to him.

"I forgot my phone on the swing, get it now" he ordered coldly. She nodded and went to the balcony. His phone started ringing, she lifted the call as it was Vinay. Before she could speak he spoke.

"Am resigning my job sir. Am going back to Mumbai. I mailed a few things that are required to be covered this week so that you can appoint another P.A. in the meantime. Thank you for everything, Sir. It was nice working with you. Good night and Goodbye, Sir" said Vinay and hung up. Sitaara understood that he is resigning from the job because Disha proposed to him. She walked back to Abhi and gave his phone back. He pulled her to sit beside him.

"Vinay Bhaiyya called you and I lifted it. He told me he is resigning and hung up without letting me speak" she said.

"Hmm" Abhi hummed looking into the phone.

"What hmm? Huh? Call him and ask him not to resign" she said.

"I won't beg people. If I find something or someone they are mine. That's it end of the discussion" he said looking at Vikram.

"What am talking and what you are talking, idiot!" She chided at him.

"He won't resign. He signed 3 years contract to work for me. 9 months are left. He won't be leaving the job you don't worry" he said nonchalantly. She sighed in relief. She was about to get up but he pulled her back.

"Stay," he said coldly. She ignored him and was about to go again, he pulled her back harshly.

"I told you to stay beside me. Didn't I?" He raised his pitch. She nodded getting intimidated by his aura.

Later all the youngsters played many games till 2 in the morning, Abhi made to sit Sitaara beside him and didn't give a chance to Vikram to come near her and retired to their rooms. Sitaara went to Aarya's room while Abhi was waiting for her.

"Why are you sleeping here?" Asked Aarya.

"Can't I sleep here? If not tell me I'll go away" said Sitaara.

"I didn't mean that, Situ. Of course you can sleep here. BTW, you are grumpy since dinner, are you angry at us because we left without having food made by you?" Asked Aarya.

"Am not angry. It's better you guys didn't have it. Aarya, I hate your brother, he is touching me, he is doing all the things which Raj used to do, he is looking at me like Raj look, he is being polite to me yet a jerk, he is talking to me exactly like Raj, his way of thinking is just like Raj, am not getting his intentions and I don't care to even learn his intentions. He is invading my brain, Aarya. He is making me feel everything I buried long back and am not liking it even a bit the way am reacting to Mani's touch, words, actions, his care, his possessiveness though I feel it is wrong and cheating on Raj. Today unknowingly I admitted that I was affected when Preethi hit on your brother, I told my mom that he is my husband, I feel something when he touches me like...like..I felt it with Raj. It is not supposed to happen. He is getting habituated to my presence around him which is not a good sign. I Am unable to ignore him which is truly dangerous. You know what, fuck your brother. He is an asshole messing up with my everything" rambled Sitaara shouting. Aarya was looking at Sitaara in shock at her outburst.

'She is falling for my brother. What if I tell her that? She won't hesitate to run away. Viru bhaiyya she is thinking that she is betraying you and your love but please wake up from her delusion. Please" thought Aarya.

"I don't care about him. He is an absolute assholic bastard" she mumbled in pillow burying her face in it. Aarya smiled and laid beside her hugging her.

They heard a door knock. Sitaara sighed.

"That must be asshole Chowdary, tell him that I already slept. Go now" she said. Aarya nodded and opened the door rubbing her eyes and yawning pretending that she was disturbed from sleep.

"Quit your act, you are terrible at it. Call your sil" he said. Aarya smiled sheepishly.

"I was watching Netflix series whereas she dozed off," said Aarya. Abhi rolled his eyes and walked inside.

"Taara open your eyes I know you aren't sleeping," said Abhi. She opened her eyes.

"Come let's go to our room, it's been missing you for 3 nights," he said sitting beside her.

"Am not coming. You go" she said like a kid. He chuckled at her childish antics.

"Why?" He asked placing hands on either side of her head and leaning to her.

"Everyone is having a get-together and even am having one with my best friend. Go away. I'll sleep here itself. Don't compel me to come and kick your ass "she said. He pouted and placed his head on her chest sideways making her eyes widen.

"Move" she shouted angrily pushing him by shoulders but Abhi snuggled more.

"I missed you for two days terribly. Shall I sleep here?" He asked like a kid lifting his head.

"Fucking get your ass out of here. This is girls night and stops behaving like a kid" she screamed at the top of her lungs with tears running down her cheeks.

"Taara...my baby..are you fine? What's wrong with you? Why are getting irritated? Are you on your days? Do you feel any pain? Shall we go to the hospital? No! I'll call the doctor here. You are scaring me. I-"

*Slap*

"Out of the room this instant. I don't need your care or anything. I don't need you beside me. Just go away" she shouted at him with tears. He nodded.

"Take care of her," he said to Aarya who is in shock. Aarya nodded. He went to the door and turned back.

"Taara...my sweetheart...shall I get juice for you? Head massage? Are you sure you don't wan-"

She threw a pillow at him making him run away. Once the door was closed she went under duvet.

"Why did you slap my brother?" Asked Aarya.

"He is my husband and my other half. We have many things between us, you don't question me and Aarya am very much irritated now you don't add it more and receive a slap from me" said Sitaara and went inside the duvet. When she realized what she told, she sat up cupping her mouth with tears in her eyes.

"You need to figure out things yourself, Situ. Greeting irritated isn't gonna fetch you anything. Just relax and think wisely. You will understand the situation you landed yourself into" said Aarya. Sitaara didn't say anything. A tear rolled down her cheek unable to understand what's wrong with her and her heart.

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

How many of you guys want to eat Sitaara's handmade food??😜😝

I guess, my loyal readers want it as they love Sitaara, don't you, guys?😂😂

Can anyone love Sitaara more than these two crazy men do? I guess, no.

Sitaara and Mridula's argument? How many of you agree with Mridula?

Is Sitaara's anger towards Haritha justifiable?

So, Sitaara was Abhi's bride initially or maybe that's what Chowdary's wanted!

Abhi's possessiveness? Sitaara's outburst? Hope she realises what actually messing up her brain.

Poor Abhi! Slapped by his wife 😂😂. Angry Sitaara is definitely not the woman to be messed with.

Precap:- Sitaara's ignorance and the venom-filled preachings.

Surya