Na Jaane Kyon...

Baatein kuch ankahi si hone lagi

Sameer sat at the breakfast table, pushing around a few pieces of fruits in his plate.

Nanu glanced at him, while buttering his toast, "Kha kyon nahi raha, Sameer? Chaar piece liye hain unse bhi khel raha hai."

"Nanu, mann nahi hai." He said, without looking up.

Vishakha, who was sitting next to him, placed a hand on his forehead, "Tabiyat theek hai na?"

Sameer smiled at her, "Theek hun, mummy, bas aaj bhook nahi hai."

Vivek eyed the items on table, and chuckled, "Haan bhai, aaj iske paranthe nahi hai na... hamare bete ko yeh sab toast, porridge jaisi cheezen thodi pasand aati hain."

Sameer turned to his dad, "Papa, khaata toh hun hamesha. Yeh healthy hai, aaj bhi kha leta lekin bas aaj dil nahi kar raha."

Ramdhari, coming out of the kitchen with tea, offered, "Sameer bhaiya, aapke liye alu parantha bana dein? Paanch minute bhi nahi lagenge. Boiled alu rakhe hain."

Sameer's eyes shot up at him, "Tujhe boiled alu banane aate hain?"

Not only Ramdhari, but three more pairs of eyes looked at him.

"Sameer bhaiya, hum toh roz hi alu boil karte hain." Ramdhari answered hesitantly as he couldn't understand if he was being scolded or Sameer was joking.

"Toh kabhi banaye kyon nahi?" Sameer asked.

Vishakha took pity on a puzzled Ramdhari and asked Sameer, "Tujhe khana kya hai? Dish bata na... uske liye alu boil karne hain ya roast yeh hum khud dekh lenge."

"Dish hi toh bata raha hun... boiled alu." Sameer explained patiently.

Nanu raised his brow, "Aur yeh nayi dish ki jaankari aapko achanak kahan se hui? Koi cooking classes mein enroll kiya hai ya online recipes dekhi kisi international chef ki?"

"Nanu, mujhe bhi nahi pata tha yeh ek dish hoti hai. Kal hi malum hua." Sameer excitedly informed, then turned to Ramdhari, "Tujhe toh pata hona chahiye tha na, itne saalon se khana bana raha hai."

Vishakha sniggered, "Boiled alu dish hoti hai yeh kisne keh diya tumhe? Arre, alu hum boil karte hain jisse unki aur bohot saari dishes bana saken, jaise alu paranthe, grilled sandwich, bread roll, samose, bread pakore, cutlets... aur bhi kaafi kuch."

Sameer gaped at her, stunned. For a few seconds, he couldn't comprehend that Naina had fooled him... and then, he was embarrassed. In spite of running a company successfully, he wasn't aware of such a simple fact, and she could gauge his naivety.

"Mujhe pata nahi tha." He scratched his head, bringing his attention back to his plate.

Nanu laughed aloud, "Chalo iss bahane tune kuch toh seekha, cooking se related."

He quietly finished the fruits in his plate while the elders continued their teasing... but his entire focus was on Naina's subtle smiles when she was telling him about boiled potatoes.

Sameer had just reached office when there was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in." He said without looking up, expecting Lakshman with some files.

"Good morning, Sameer sir." The sweet voice was nothing like his office helper.

His eyes eagerly drank the sight that brightened his morning instantly, "Naina tum? Good morning. Please come."

She walked in with a small bag in hand, and placed it on the table next to the sofa, then looked at him, "Aapke alu paranthe."

A contented smile spread on his face... he wasn't sure she would remember. He couldn't have breakfast at home in anticipation, still, in a corner of his heart, a doubt lurked that she might not get the paranthas for him. Now, seeing that she not only remembered, but brought them to him the minute he arrived, gave wings to his imagination.