Chapter 17: Threads Of Togetherness

A few weeks later,

In the evening,

At Purab's home:

.

(The living room buzzed with warmth as Purab's and Naina's family shared stories and laughter.

The aroma of the cooking wafted in from the kitchen, mingling with the lively banter.)

(Vikram, seated comfortably on the couch, let out a hearty laugh as Purab's father shared yet another tale from Naina and Purab's mischievous childhood.)

Man: Aur phir, Naina ko laga ki woh itne bade se ped par chadh jaayegi. Phir pata hai kya hua?? (laughs) Neeche utarne ke time pe, woh darr gayi, aur beech mein hi phas gayi. Phir Purab ko bulaya uski madad karne ke liye!

Vikram: (laughing) waah!! I can't imagine Naina in such a situation now!

(Purab's Mother smiles fondly, looking at Naina.)

Woman: Sach mein, kitni badal gayi hai yeh ladki! Ek dum sophisticated aur organized ho gayi hai ab. Warna yeh toh bilkul jangli thi!

(Everyone burst into laughter, except Naina, who feigned mock outrage.)

Naina: Aunty, aap toh mere saath ho! Ab aap hi mujhe jangli bula rahi ho?

Jyoti: (grinning) Jangli kaafi mild word hai! I remember how uncle ji would ask me to teach you, how to be a lady. Maryada mein kaise rehte hain, yeh sab mujhe sikhana tha tumhe!!!

Purab: Arrey, khaana banana bhi nahi aata tha isko! Aur jab koshish karti thi, toh pata hai, kya banta tha?? Gobar!!! Bilkul gobar jaisa khaana banati thi yeh!!!!

(The entire room erupted in laughter, and Naina narrowed her eyes at Purab.)

Naina: Oye, Pogo! Tumhe kaise pata gobar kaisa lagta hai? Aye haye, tumne kya-kya chakh rakha hai?

(As everyone laughed, little Prakhar toddled over with a toy in hand.)

Prakhar: Mumma, dekho! Main gobar bana raha hoon Play-Doh se!

(The room exploded into laughter once again. Bhoomika, pretending to scold him, shook her head.)

Bhoomika: Prakhar! Aise mat bolte hain guests ke saamne!

Prakhar: (innocently) Par papa ne bola gobar funny hota hai!

(Kiara, Kiaan and Paarth chuckled at the little one's antics, while Purab shot Naina a playful smirk.)

Naina: (holding up her hands in mock surrender) Bas, bas! Can we stop talking about my childhood now? Aap log mere bachpan ke kisse, mere bacchon ke saamne share karke, un dono ko ideas de rahe ho!

(She shot a look at Kiaan and Kiara, who were already grinning ear to ear.)

Naina: Woh dono kaafi sudhre huay hain, samjhe? Inhe aur mat bigaado!

Kiara: (giggling) Sudhre huay? Really, Mom? I think we need to hear more stories about you!

Kiaan: (grinning mischievously) Exactly, Mom! I mean, jangli and gobar chef? We've been missing out on so much!

Naina: (narrowing her eyes at her twins) Dono chup ho jao! Puri duniya ki masti tum dono mein hai already. Aur chahiye kya?

Bhoomika: (laughing) haan... let's stop these funny stories.... waise toh Naina aur Purab ke bachpan ki stories, sabko entertain kar rahe hain! Lekin Prakhar ke saamne zyada mat bolo. Kal school jaake sabko gobar wali story sunayega!

Prakhar: (interrupting excitedly) Haan! Main teacher ko bolunga ki gobar funny hota hai!

(Everyone burst into uncontrollable laughter, while Naina dramatically buried her face in her hands.)

.

.

Later,

At the dining table:

(The family gathered around the large dining table, the delicious spread making everyone's mouth water.

Bhoomika served piping hot rotis, while Purab's mother insisted everyone take an extra helping of sabzi.)

Woman: Naina, aur dal lo. Tumhaari plate khaali- khaali kyun lag rahi hai??? tum yahaan kyun sharmaa rahi ho?

Naina: (smiling) Aunty, main aur nahi khaa sakti. Aaj- kal thode strict diet pe hoon naa. toh raat mein roti thodi restrict kar li hai.

Kiara: Relax, mumma!!!! Aap toh kaafi fit ho!

Jyoti: haan, Naina!!! yahaan aake, dieting ka mat socho!!!!

(they all smile)

Vikram: (swallowing a bite of food) Aap sab ko, ab mere yahaan dinner ke liye aana padega.

Prem: Haan, lekin ek shart pe—only if you're the one cooking.

Vikram: (smiling) Sure, why not?

Purab: (teasing) Kiara hamesha aapki cooking ki taareef karti rehti hai. Lekin, surprisingly, Nunu ne kabhi kuch nahi bola!

Naina: (making a mock sad face) Vikram ji ne, mujhe kabhi apne haath ka bana khana khilaaya hi nahi... toh main taareef kaise karun?

woman: (pretending to scold Vikram) Arrey, yeh kya baat hui, beta! Naina ke liye toh tumko kuch special banana chahiye tha.

Vikram: (grinning) kabhi mauka hi nahi mila aunty. But ab zaroor banaunga!!!!

(As everyone smiles, Vikram turned to Paarth, who was quietly serving Prakhar a small portion of rice on his plate.)

Vikram: So, Paarth, how's college? Kaise chal rahe hain projects?

Paarth: (respectfully) Achhe chal raha hai, Uncle. Final aim toh Papa ke business ko sambhalna hai.... aur aage badhaana hai. Hopefully, southern states mein expand karenge.... aur agar Bhagwaan chaahe toh, abroad bhi.

(The table fell silent for a moment before breaking into warm smiles.)

Vikram: Bilkul! Jab Walmart aur IKEA kar sakte hain, toh hum kyun nahi?

Paarth: yes, uncle. You're right!!!!

Purab: (teasing mode) Paarth beta, ek baat bataao...... tum kehte ho ki college mein projects aur assignments bahut zyaada hote hain. life is very hectic and stressful... toh yeh sab hote huay bhi, how do you manage to take out time to spend with Kiara???

(Kiara's cheeks flushed a deep pink as everyone burst into laughter. Paarth smiled politely, adjusting his glasses.)

Paarth: Woh toh Kiara hi bata sakti hai, chachu. Plans woh banati hai... and I just schedule everything accordingly!!!!

Purab: (exclaims, teases them) Oh-ho, Kiara planner bhi hai! Waise, kya- kya include hota hai iss planning mein??

(Kiara hid her face in her hands, while Kiaan leaned back in his chair, thoroughly enjoying the show.)

Kiaan: Dekho na, itni blush toh Kiara kabhi finish line cross karte waqt bhi nahi karti!

Naina: (joining in) Sahi keh rahe ho, Kiaan! Kiara, kya baat hai? Tum toh hamesha confident dikhte ho. Aaj, sharmaana kahaan se seekh liya?

(Before Kiara could respond, Prakhar piped up, holding his glass of juice dramatically.)

Prakhar: Kiara Didi sharmaa rahi hai, kyunki usko Paarth bhaiya ke saath shaadi karni hai!!

(Everyone roared with laughter as Kiara playfully patted Prakhar's arm)

Kiara: Oye chotu.... Are kuch zyaada hi high on sugar ho gaye ho tum!!!! Yeh kisne bola tumse?

Prakhar: Papa ne!

Purab: (raising his hands in mock innocence) Arrey, maine kuch nahi bola!

(The teasing continued, Kiara laughing along despite her embarrassment, while Paarth, calm and composed, only smiled at the gentle ribbing.)

Kiaan: (leaning over to Kiara, whispering) Bro.... tumhaari toh full on taangh- kheechai ho rahi hai!!!

Kiara: (whispering back) Mujhe laga yeh dinner formal hoga, jaise Mihika ke saath tha... Bhool gayi thi ki Paarth ki family toh Mumma ki extended family hai.... yahaan toh sab informal hi rahega!!!!

(Just as everyone settled down from the teasing, Purab dropped the bombshell.)

Purab: Kiara.... I hope you had a nice time in Goa.... Kyunki tum shayad apne summer vacations pe kahin ghoomne nahi jaa paaogi.

Kiara: kyun? Kya hua?

Purab: maine tumhara naam, national championship ke liye submit kar diya hai.

(Kiara froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.)

Kiara: What???? No, Chachu! I'm not ready!

Purab: Bilkul ready ho! Tumhaare last race ke baad, mujhe koi doubt nahi raha.

Kiara: Just because I almost beat a two-time national champion doesn't mean I'm ready for that challenge!

Purab (calmly) Kiara, tumhaare paas aaram se 6 mahine hain practice karne ke liye. Lekin abhi concentrate on your final exams. Woh zyada important hain...... aur phir, exams khatam hote hi track pe waapas aa jaana!!!!

(Kiara nodded, though her unsure smile revealed her nervousness.)

Prakhar: (jumping in) Kiara Didi, kya aapne mujhe race karte dekha?? Main bhi bahut accha race karta hoon. Main aapko sikha doonga!!!!

Paarth: (grinning) mere pyaare Prakhu.... Pehle tum apne cycle ke training wheels hataake chalaao, Phir baat karenge!!!

(The room filled with laughter again, the perfect blend of teasing, love, and light-hearted banter that made family dinners unforgettable.)

.

.

Later:

(As everyone began gathering their belongings and preparing to leave, the usual commotion unfolded near the door.

Naina stood with Vikram, caught in the familiar rhythm of last-minute conversations with Purab, Bhoomika, Prem and Jyoti.

Kiaan walked towards the car and waited there, not wanting to be a part of the conversation.)

.

In the midst of the chaos,

(Paarth subtly caught Kiara's eye. With a small tilt of his head, he gestured for her to step aside.

Kiara hesitated for a split second before following him to a quieter corner of the room.)

Paarth: (teasing) So, dinner pass ho gaya ya fail?

Kiara: (laughing) Pass with flying colors. I was very nervous about the dinner program involving papa.... But it all went so smooth.

Paarth: (speaks in a serious tone) Kiara, ek baat kahoon?

Kiara: bolo...

Paarth: dekho.... Our families have taken their relation to the next level.... Toh, mujhe lagta hai, hame bhi apne relationship ko next level par le jaana chahiye.

(Kiara froze. Her eyes widened as she looked at him, feeling a sudden wave of nervousness wash over her.)

Kiara: (stammers, trying to keep her voice steady) K-kya matlab?

Paarth: Kiara... Hum coffee shops mein bahut mil chuke. Street food aur motorcycle rides toh apne, routine ban gaye hain. Ab I want something... more personal.

Kiara: (her heart skips a beat as she nervously looks up at him) Aur personal???

(She tried to play it cool but feeling the nerves began toh creep up.

Paarth noticed the subtle shift in her voice, and he grinned.)

Paarth: (teases her) Haan.... something more personal. Tumhe kya lagta hai, Kiara??

(He teased, pausing just long enough to make her squirm.)

Kiara: (curious and nervous) Aap... kya chahate ho, Paarth?

(Paarth tilted his head slightly, pretending to think for a moment.)

Paarth: I'm done with the same old stuff, yaar!!!! I want something more... (sighs) some more, intimate!!!!

(He lowered his voice as he emphasized the word 'more intimate'. His eyes were glinting with mischief.

Kiara felt her cheeks warm, a mix of confusion and embarrassment swirling inside her.)

Kiara: M-more intimate?? Matlab... aap kya keh rahe ho?

(Seeing her get nervous was exactly what Paarth had hoped for, and he could barely hold back his smile.)

Paarth: (a playful spark in his eyes) Dinner!!!! I'm talking about a proper dinner date. (chuckles) Kyun? Tumhe kya laga?

(Kiara's expression changed instantly, and she shot him a playful glare.)

Kiara: (playfully hits him on his arm) aap kabhi mujhe tease karna bandh nahi karoge naa??? Mujhe laga ki, aap kuch aur hi keh rahe ho!

Paarth: (laughs, clearly enjoying her reaction) Arrey, tumhari imagination bahut wild hai, Kiara!!!!

(he teases, his laughter making her even more flustered)

Paarth: But seriously, ab ek proper dinner date pe jaane ka time aa gaya hai, don't you think?? we dress up nicely.... main tumhe ghar se pick up karun.... hum dinner par jaayein.... accha time spend karein... aur phir main tumhe ghar waapas chhod doon.

Kiara: (narrows her eyes, but still playful) Hmm... dinner, huh? I'll think about it!!!

Paarth: Think about it?? (exclaims) Iss mein sochne ki kya baat hai?? dekho... abhi toh Vikram uncle ke saath bhi sab kuch sorted hai... toh koi darr nahi. koi tension nahi!!!!

Kiara: (smirks) Well, I don't just agree to any date, Mr. Paarth.

Paarth: (grins) Phir toh, if you agree to the date, mujhe kaafi lucky feel karna chahiye!!!!

Kiara: woh toh hai!!!!

(they share a laugh together.

By then, the goodbyes were almost complete, and Vikram called out for Kiara.

No one seemed to notice the small exchange, except perhaps Bhoomika, who watched them with a knowing smile.)

.

.

Then,

(As Kiara settled into the car, she glanced back once.

Paarth stood near the gate, hands in his pockets, watching her leave with a faint smile.

The car pulled away, its red taillights fading into the distance.

Paarth stayed there for a moment longer, his gaze lingering on the empty road before he turned back toward the house.)

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Author’s Note:

Who doesn’t love a big, warm family gathering? Our Indian culture teaches us to embrace everyone, making these moments even more special.

But ohh… that little moment between Kiara and Paarth? It definitely made me blush! 😳😳

Be honest—your mind wandered for a second too, didn’t it? Don’t lie, I know you all have naughty minds! 😉🔥

If this chapter made you smile, blush, or even gasp, hit that ⭐ vote button! And don’t forget to drop a comment—what do you think is brewing between Kiara and Paarth? I’m waiting to hear your thoughts! ❤️