I shot her a glare. "Don’t worry, Tanya. If he eats the whole pot, I’ll make another one. And another. And another. Until you’re forced to admit my halwa is better than yours."
Saurav’s father chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. "Ah, competition in the kitchen. That’s how the best sweets are made." He scooped a spoonful, tasted it, and closed his eyes dramatically. "Mmm… this is divine. Kavya, you’ve outdone yourself."
My heart swelled with pride. For a moment, my insecurities melted away like sugar in ghee.
Tanya folded her arms, smirking. "Divine? Really? Uncle, you’re too kind."
He licked the spoon clean and grinned. "Kind? No, no. Honest. If this halwa were a movie, it would be a blockbuster. If it were a song, it would be a chart-topper. And if it were a cricket match, it would be India beating Pakistan in the finals."
I burst out laughing, unable to help myself. Even Tanya cracked a reluctant smile.
"See, Tanya," I said sweetly, "this halwa doesn’t just taste good but it wins trophies."
Saurav’s father patted my shoulder warmly. "Exactly. And you, Kavya, win today’s kitchen trophy."
Tanya rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath, but I didn’t care. For once, I wasn’t the insecure wife. I was going to win everyone's heart one by one, especially my husband's.
________
I was serving halwa when, suddenly, a dark urge flickered through me to serve poison instead at the sight of Saurav and Tanya sitting together. Rhea sat beside Mr. Chauhan.
When I approached Saurav to serve him, he refused coldly. “I don’t like halwa …”
“Unless it’s made by my hand,” Tanya finished for him with a sinister smile, her eyes cutting toward me.
I forced a polite smile and moved toward his father.
“He won’t eat it. He has diabetes,” Saurav said flatly.
“I like halwa, son,” Mr. Chauhan replied calmly.
“You’ve already had enough sugar, Dad,” Saurav countered. “I spoke to your doctor. He strictly forbade you from eating anything sweet.”
“I know my health condition,” Mr. Chauhan snapped. “You’d better focus on the health of your relationship. And since when did you suddenly start caring about me?”
“I’ve always cared about you, Dad,” Saurav sighed. “But you were too stubborn to see it.”
The tension between father and son thickened the air. Before it could escalate further, Rhea jumped in.
“Mmm… it’s delicious, Kav,” she moaned theatrically. “I’ve never tasted anything so good.”
“That really is tasty,” Mr. Chauhan agreed. He snatched the bowl from my hand and began eating.
Saurav looked at his father with disappointment but said nothing. After a few moments, he rose and walked away without touching breakfast.
My heart sank. I endured the coldness he kept throwing at me, wishing just for a few minutes that he would treat me the way he once did. He had stopped smiling the day I entered his world.
“Why is he acting so strange?” Rhea whispered.
“Maybe Tanya cast some spell on him,” I joked lightly, scooping halwa into another bowl.
“Maybe… ” Rhea laughed, then her expression hardened as she glanced at Tanya, who seemed far too pleased with herself. “But you need to take bhai in your hand,” she muttered, clenching her fist.
“In my hand?” I raised a brow.
“Yes. Control the situation. Don’t let that snake take over your house.”
I chuckled softly. “You really hate her, don’t you?”