Ira looked at the woman in the mirror with tears, in the washroom"There were always such lovely people around me but I never knew.
I was absorbed in my own self that I had no the time to look around.
Only after the bitter experience of past, I decided to be good to them."
A woman who doesn"t even get greeted by a rude daughter in law;
Shouldn"t she hate her or at least express a general dislike.
She never visited her in past.
Yet she welcomed her with broken arms. She touched her earnings.
It was a very expensive stone and rare too. If it was just a gift she would have felt grat.i.tude.
Whereas, for a designer giving the most popular and expensive design someone"s name was a sign of deep affection.
And she felt warmth and attachment
What did I do to deserve this?
They say one must have saved a country in her previous life to gain such luck. She was just a selfish person in past life.
Next morning she got up early.
To make breakfast...
When they had lunchboxes delivery service. Her mother made a delicious lunch for delivery so she learned to make desserts and cakes, complimentary to it. Though initially having no talent but 3 years of hard work, she made quite delicious desert.
The smell of m.u.f.fins straight out of oven drifted in the house. There was a basket laden with m.u.f.fins. Some loaded with nuts, other with fresh berries.
When Viv followed the smell he saw
a smiling woman taking baking tray out from microwave oven.
" Viv I made some m.u.f.fins.Do you want to try?" she asked.
Vivian looked at Ira flas.h.i.+ng a sweet smile "Okay!" he said without any thought.
She held a warm m.u.f.fin laden with blueberries, dipped in melted b.u.t.ter and then sprinkled with spiced sugar
Served it. Waiting for his response.
Viv ate it unconsciously it was first time she cooked for him but when
He tasted sweet and spicy but soft and moist m.u.f.fins. He savoured the taste.
After taking a bite, He realized he had been impulsive. Looking at the water mouthering m.u.f.fins but still unable to eat them was a torture.
He didn"t even swallowed the last bite and was thinking of excuse when he heard
Ira say " Don"t worry they are eggless. "
She remembered an embarra.s.sing conversation from yesterday with Tara...
"Viv makes very good eggs especially poached eggs, they are perfect. You are good cook. He must have learned to make them from you. Though he doesn"t like them. What does he like to eat?" wanting to inquire about his favourite food.
Tara said "Eggs? Viv made eggs! He has extreme egg allergy. We never made eggs at home."
Ira was so ashamed and embarra.s.sed that she didn"t ask any further. It was in reality a 4 year marriage and she didn"t knew of her husband"s allergies.
Present.
"You idiot! What if they did? I would have added normally except I knew yesterday that you have egg allergy
How can you eat just like that?" Ira was angry for his carelessness and her ignorance.
"Because it was made by you. Served to me, for first time. I would have only tasted it" Viv answered honestly.
Ira embarra.s.singly lost the eye contact and filled a platter of m.u.f.fins, kept in front of Viv
"Eat" she said softly.
Normally he doesn"t eat any desserts. Most contain eggs and he didn"t took a risk. He had long forgotten
What they tasted like...
Amazed by the taste, he obediently emptied the platter.
Ira, looking forward to his reviews got silence. He was just absorbed eating.
"How was it?" Ira asked.
"Its best thing I have ever tasted." Viv said.
"Really?" Ira said.
He took her outstretched hand and turned the palm downwards gently by the fingertips, bowing his head kissed it "Really, the sweetest thing. Made by these lovely hands."
Viv was amazed.