Amidst Our Erred Stars

14

I was supposed to make kheer.

The dessert in the kadhai looks more like chawal ka halwa.

After I finally got to take a shower, his mother asked me to make something sweet to follow some 'traditions' after marriage. Making something sweet wasn't a problem, not baking it was.

I can bake a croissant with closed eyes but anything that requires precise measurements and traditional cooking methods was out of my comfort zone.

Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try and agreed to make the kheer.

As I gathered the ingredients and started cooking, I followed the recipe as closely as I could remember. But as the kheer simmered in the kadhai, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. I knew something was off.

When I finally took a look at the dessert, my heart sank. Instead of the creamy, aromatic kheer I had intended to make, what greeted me was a thick, sticky mass that looked more like chawal ka halwa than anything else.

I sighed in frustration, knowing that I had failed miserably at yet another attempt at traditional cooking. But before I could dwell on my disappointment, Sahaj's mother walked into the kitchen, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the dessert.

"Oh, it looks delicious!" she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face. "Just like how my mother used to make it."

I forced a smile, trying to hide my embarrassment as I presented the dessert to her. "I hope it tastes as good as it looks," I replied, praying that she wouldn't notice the glaring difference between my attempt and the real thing.

To my relief, she seemed pleased with the kheer, taking a spoonful and nodding in approval. "Perfect," she declared, her smile widening.

I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at her words, despite knowing that the kheer was far from perfect.

But as I watched Sahaj's mother enjoy the dessert, I realized that sometimes, it's not about perfection but the effort and love we put into something that truly matters.

Hearing the commotion outside, Both of us peeked out of the kitchen only to see Sahaj rushing out of the room, a few files in his hand that seemed like the ones he was working on last night.

"You're leaving already?" His mother asked, walking out of the kitchen.

Good. At Least he won't have the chance to make a comment on my cookies skills because knowing him, he would definitely say something.

As Sahaj rushed out of the room, clutching the files in his hand, his mother's question hung in the air.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at the prospect of his departure, knowing that I wouldn't have to endure any snarky comments about my cooking skills from him and control myself from giving a response in front of his parents.

"Yes, already got late, I'll eat something." He replied, walking over to her as he gave her a side hug before kissing the side of her head, "Bye."

He started to walk away when she held his hand, gesturing towards the kitchen, I quickly moved back into the kitchen before he could say I was eavesdropping.

Two seconds later I heard footsteps approaching the kitchen.

Sahaj entered the kitchen, the subtle scent of his musky cologne mingled with the aroma of kheer.

I turned to him only to find him standing closer to me than I expected, I looked at him cautiously before my eyes caught his mother standing outside.

"Don't move." He said, his face is so close to me that I can smell the aftershave.