Sunday Story "My Live-in Sasuraal" Season 2 - Episode 2 - All are great chefs in this house

(You can read the previous part of this story here- Episode 1)

“I am so happy that Akash met someone like you, Anika. You are so helpful to me in the kitchen from the first day of your….” Akash’s mother, Vaishali struggled with words to describe their relationship, but she ended up chaotically, “this thing you know?”

Badi Chachi and Chhoti Chachi knew that Vaishali’s appreciation for Anika was a kind of sarcasm towards them

“Bhabhi, the younger generation is damn lucky. When I got married in this house, I was told to wash all the utensils on the first night itself. My mehndi faded within hours.” Badi Chachi smirked at them, eying in jealousy at Anika. 🙄

“And I wasn’t even allowed to check my husband before marriage. Long is the question of staying with the in-laws and trying out whether they are suited for me or not?” Chhoti Chachi complained genuinely. 🙁 She hailed from a native village and she was adjusting with the new city as well. “I had never been to Mumbai in my lifetime. And yet, I was supposed to adjust with the new people. No one asked me whether I would be comfortable in a strange city or not.” 

“Its all in the destiny.” Badi Chachi retorted with a sigh. If Bade Chacha’s favourite word was ‘understand’ it was ‘all in the destiny’ for Badi Chachi. She blamed everything on the destiny, including her kids’ final exam marks.

Unknowingly, Anika loved the appreciation that she was seeking from Vaishali and Akash’s father Santoshji. No matter how little she was admired for her work, she would give her best and try to achieve something huge. She had never tried cooking biryani in her life as she thought it to be a herculean task and ‘ordering’ was a better option for her. But when she cooked it, she felt as if she had accomplished something huge.

She flaunted proudly to her best friend, Shruti about this, “Everyone was smacking their lips while eating my biryani. And Akash was so immersed in it. He said he has never enjoyed biryani ever in his life.” Anika was super-happy 😃 and Shruti looked at her proudly.

“I am really happy for you, Ani. You are adjusting to your new household and are keeping your family members happy. All these tiny moments of happiness sum into life, my dear. Look at you, you have never enjoyed cooking for others earlier, and now, you are cooking a delicious biryani for them. See how you will change into a different person gradually. You will never expect it and find yourself in a new avatar.” Shruti smiled at her indignantly.

Though Shruti had no intention of nagging her, it sounded like a blow to Anika. Indeed, she was changing. She was trying to prove to her in-laws that she is the best amongst all the daughter-in-laws that the Trivedi family ever had. The constant comparison of Anika with the Chachis of the household, and the consistent appreciation of her tiny bits of work and culinary skills!

“Oh my God!” She covered her mouth and exclaimed in horror. “I am changing and I am not even digesting the huge change in me. I am becoming the stereotypical DIL that I never wanted to become. Oh gosh!” Anika sounded like a Drama Queen to Shruti. 😒

“Ani, come on! You are overreacting to what I said. Look, you are so happy with the little things that you do for your family. You are changing into a better person. Change is good and essential for every person. Why shy away if the change is for your betterment and is making you happier than ever?” Shruti explained her intentions but Anika didn’t agree with her.

When she returned home, Vaishali welcomed her and said, “See, everyone is waiting for you. It seems that all the men in his house are in love with your masala tea. Now, no one wants us to make tea.” She said in a comical sarcasm, eyeing at her husband and Chachas.

“And what is Akash doing?” Anika asked indifferently.

“Akash, oh Akash has just returned from the office. He looked so tired that I told him to relax for a while and I will bring tea to his room. You also get changed quickly, beta.” Vaishali added.

Anika paused for a while and said, “It was a long, tiring day for me too, Aunty. I was standing for nearly four hours to resolve my client’s cases, and then, there was endless paperwork to be done. I didn’t find time to relax at all during the day, only when Shruti and I went for a quick tea break near my office.” She said sternly and everyone stared at her.

“Beta, we didn’t know it. Go and relax. We don’t have any intention of forcing you to make tea. We liked your tea and that’s why we were waiting. Anyway, Badi Chachi has been making tea for the last 16 years; let her make it for another day. Nothing will happen.” Bade Chacha said. Anika couldn’t figure out whether he was furious or ironic to her statement.

“Uncle, please don’t get me wrong. If anyone is trained how to make tea, they can make it much better. I will make it once I relax for a while and get energized.” She said and left for her room.

Akash overheard their conversation from upstairs by keeping the door slightly open. For the first few seconds, he thought that Anika was being rude and mean to his family, but he realized that even she needed some me-time.

After a while, they both made tea and served their family members. When the men noticed Akash helping in the kitchen, they murmured, “See, after marriage, he will also cook biryani with her.”

“Yes, I will cook with her. And you can also cook and help your respective wives. There are no rules in this house as to who will cook or who won’t. Everyone is a great chef in this house.” He winked at Chhote Chacha, who got the green signal.

“Bade Chacha can make the best Indore poha in the world. He was in Indore for five years. We want to taste it this Sunday, Bhaiya.”

“And what about your dream to become a halwaai. He can make the world’s best halwa but he hides his cooking talents.” Bade Chacha said laughing aloud and mocked Chhote Chacha.

Anika gazed at Akash proudly as he handled the matter well without taking anyone’s sides or condemning her or his family. 🤗

Wow! That looked like a typical day from a newly married woman's life! What will happen next?