Dinner at Aunt's house
1076 Words
“What….what rubbish are you talking?” Preet asked her.
Preet couldn’t believe what Noor just said. She knows her aunt (Noor’s mom) never think of like this regarding this marriage issues that the Noor was presuming.
She continued, “Noor stop thinking like this. No one is going to talk like this in our family. All knew there is no such imperfection thing in this whole matter and mark my words nobody will ever going to say this to you."
"And this is mere just coincidence that my marriage is fixed like this and that too this early and before you.”
“I know this Preet but you too mark my words sooner or later this topic will surely come” Noor countered back.
After having their conversation they all went for dinner together.
All the ladies helped in setting up the table. All settled around the table at their respective seats.
After doing a short prayer all dug in food. The food was indeed delicious.
It was typical Punjabi Vegetarian food.
There was Rajma, Shahi Paener, Raita, Chapaties, Plain Rice and Salad.
( Rajma is a popular vegetarian dish, originating from the Indian subcontinent, consisting of red kidney beans in a thick gravy with many Indian whole spices, and is usually served with rice.
Rajma Recipe is a favorite food of Punjab.
Shahi Paneer is a very rich and delicate recipe made with cottage cheese added to curry and with lots of cream. Shahi means royal. Because of its creamy texture and rich taste it is called ‘Shahi’.
Raita is an Indian dish made with whisked yogurt, spice powders, herbs & veggies like onions, cucumbers & carrots.
Most often it is made with fresh veggies of choice, salt, mild spice powders like cumin and herbs like coriander leaves & mint leaves.
Chapati, also known as roti, is an unleavened flatbread originating from the Indian subcontinent and staple in India.)
Dinner went well.
Preet’s in laws requested them to fix marriage date as early as possible. So it was decided that marriage will be in two months.
After the dinner, all had discussions about the arrangements that everyone needs to do for wedding.
All tasks were divided among all family members as there is not much time left in marriage and there is hell lot of preparations needs to be done.
After dinner and marriage related discussions, we returned to our home.
On our way back home, Papa and Maa are on one bike and Kamal Veerji and I on other bike.
(Veerji is endearment used for elder brother)
Kamaljeet or Kamal for short is Noor’s elder brother. He is a MBA graduate and working in an MNC in Gurgaon, Delhi NCR.
Kamal is quite handsome but he is little cold in nature.
He always keeps his straight face which never reflects any of his emotions.
By just watching his face, one can never tell what he is thinking or what is going in his pretty little head.
Sometimes I use to wonder how he will react in any particular situation.
But I appreciate him a lot in the way he handles every situation, whether the situation is work related, professional or personal.
He is very mature in these kind of things.
After reaching home, Noor went straight to bathroom.
She took a shower and did her night time routine.
She changed in her night dress that includes long and loose t-shirt and a comfy payjama.
After quickly doing her night time prayer she lay down on her bed and sets an alarm on her mobile phone and keep the phone on the nightstand table.
She was too tired today so as soon as her back touched the bed she drifted off to sleep.
*********************
Next day she woke up at 6 AM, She went to bathroom and finished her morning routine.
After taking shower she changed into her dress.
She choose to wear a lemon yellow coloured long kurti paired with white leggings and white dupatta.
Standing in front of her dressing table, she wore her earings and applied little kohl in her eyes and slight lip gloss on her pink lips.
She combed her long dark brown hair and then tied them in a low pony tail.
She was looking very pretty today.
She did her morning prayers and went to kitchen where her Maa is preparing breakfast for all.
“Good morning maa” Noor greeted her mother.
“Good morning beta (child)” her mother replied.
“What are we making for the breakfast today?”She asked her mom.
“Aloo Prantha with curd and pickles” her mom replied back.
(Aloo Prantha is an Indian flat-bread stuffed with mashed boiled potatoes mixed with spices, salt pepper, onion and coriander. It is usually served with curd and pickles.)
“O wow …my favorite breakfast. Thank you Maa” Noor said excitedly before kissing her mother's cheeks.
“You are welcome beta” Maa said to Noor.
She helped her mother with breakfast in preparing pranthas and also prepared tea for all.
By this time her father and brother also joined them in dining area for breakfast.
“Good morning Papa, Good Morning Veerji” Noor greeted both of them.
“Good morning Noor” both replied in unison and laughed on realizing that both said it together.
Then papa and Maa greeted each other.
Then kamal went near his mother and greeted her by touching her feet and said “Good morning Maa”
(Touching the feet of elders is an age-old Indian tradition that is considered to be a mark of respect. In our Indian culture it is believed that when a person bows down and touches the feet of their elders, their ego gets suppressed as this gesture indicates respecting the age, experience, achievements and wisdom of the person whose feet are being touched. The elder person then, in turn, blesses the person touching their feet by touching the top of his or her head with their hands.)
“God bless you always my son” Mom said placing her hand on his head with adoration and gesturing him to get up and returned to table not before placing a kiss on his cheeks.
(In our Punjabi culture, daughters are not allowed to touch feet of parents. But after marriage, as a daughter in law they should touch the feet of their in-laws to give respect to them.)
Noor and her mother served breakfast to all. They all started eating the food after doing a short prayer.
“Maa these pranthas are the best in whole world” Noor exclaimed.
Her father and her brother both agreed with Noor.
After finishing her breakfast, Noor quickly went to kitchen and packed herself two pranthas for lunch.
After sorting herself out she went to pick her bag, kept her lunch in it. She grabbed her phone and wallet.
She bid her goodbye to her parents and brother and left for metro station.
- Writer
