9 # Guests

When they reached home, lunchtime has been over. They freshened up and sat at the dining table. Aradhya’s feet are hurting due to burning, it didn’t burn too much but her feet turned red due to the heat of the steps of the temple.

After having lunch, she gulped her medicines and was laying on the bed. Her eyes gazed at Samarth, who came out of the closet after changing his clothes. He looked a glance at her and opened the drawer of the table placed beside the bedroom door. He brought the first aid box and threw it on the bed, which fell beside Aradhya.

“Apply ointment.” He said orderly and moved out of the room. Aradhya irritated and mumbled, “I’m not saying anything, it doesn’t mean that he can behave like this, Can’t he give me this box politely? Ohhh god.. this jerk”

She applied ointment to her feet, She was tired and also her body is too weak, so she slept soon, and that too for a long. In the evening, Sakshi came into Samarth’s room with Dadi. Aradhya was sleeping peacefully.

“She must be tired, let her sleep Dadi. We should tell Samaira, She will tell her.” Sakshi said to Dadi.

“Ji, It’s ok, Beta,” Dadi replied.

They came out and called Samaira, She came into the living room.

“Samaira, we are going to Mrs Ahuja’s home, she invited us to dinner. Today our cook is on leave and nobody else is present here to prepare food. So tell Aradhya about us and prepare food for Samarth and her. And I think that you and Anaya should go outside for dinner. I hope you understand what I want to say.” Dadi said to Samaira. Afterwards, Dadi and Sakshi left the home.

“Dadi, whatever, we are doing, is right?” Sakshi asked in a confused tone while coming out of the house.

“Sakshi, aren’t we know about Samarth? I’m worrying about Aradhya. Samarth should not do anything wrong with her. I wish that they both should spend some time together. That’s why I’m doing this. In short, I want that Samarth must fall in love with her.” Dadi explained Sakshi, both laughed a lot and stepped towards the next 4th house of their house.

Samaira angrily kicked the chair nearby her. She went to her room and convinced Anaya for dinner at the restaurant. She and Anaya decided not to tell anything to Aradhya.

Aradhya woke up and looked at the clock, it’s 7 in the evening. She took a bath., A hot bath made her body refreshed. She wore a black and white coloured saree with a floral print on it and having a medium-sized lace border. She was looking elegant. She came down from the stairs, she saw Anaya and Samaira are going out. Before the girls open the door, the doorbell rang.

Anaya opened the door, in front of the door, a foreign couple was standing. A lady was looking excited and smiling. She greeted, “Hi, good evening. Are you Mrs Goenka?”

Anaya glared at the lady and then glared at Aradhya, who was stepping down the stairs. Anaya gritted her teeth and replied, “She is not at home”. After saying these words, Anaya pushed that lady and moved out of the home. Samaira apologized to that lady, “I’m sorry on behalf of her.”  And she runs behind Anaya and shouted, “Anaya, Stop this nonsense.”

Here Aradhya was looking at them, she ran to the door and apologised, “I’m really sorry, for whatever happened here. Please, come inside.” Her feet are feeling well now so she can walk and run easily.

The couple came inside but their happiness vanished away after Anaya’s misbehaviour.

“Please, have a sit.”Aradhya requested. They sat on the sofa and looking at each other.

“We are so sorry, we came here without informing Mr Goenka.” The man apologised.

“No, problem. He is not at home, now. What can I do for you?” Aradhya asked.

They again look at each other and the lady said, “I’m Jenny and he is my husband Jacob. Actually, we are invited by Mr Goenka, for dinner tomorrow. But we changed our plan and arrived today.”

“Oh, don’t bother for it. Most Welcome, let me bring water for you.”Aradhya said and moved towards the kitchen. She came with two glasses of water in a tray. They both drank water and gave her glass back, Jenny asked while giving her glass, “Who are you?”

To answer this question is too much awkward for Aradhya, she replied short, “Aradhya”

“What…? Area…” Jenny tried to speak while stammering. Aradhya laughed, “It’s okay. If you cannot speak clearly.”

Aradhya was looking for other family members but no maid, no members are seen. She said, “I think, the cook is on leave, So… I have to cook, please stay here, I should start cooking because it's already 7.45 pm.”

“I can cook only Indian food, I hope you don’t mind….. What would you like to have?” Aradhya became nervous.

“You don’t worry, we would like to have Indian food at dinner. Cook whatever you like.” Jenny replied. Aradhya smiled and moved to the kitchen. She doesn’t know which stuff she will find in the kitchen. She explored the kitchen. She decided menu for dinner, Kheer, Paneer tikka masala, Puri, Dal, rice and salad. She collects utensils and necessary ingredients for cooking. She started cooking, Jenny joined her. She was enjoying the Indian cooking style.

Aradhya finished her cooking, She decorated food and placed it on dining. After that, she went to her room and Jenny was following her. Now Aradhya was confused, nobody is at home, she doesn’t know the number of Samarth or others.

 She washed her face with cold water and came out of the bathroom. Jenny was sitting on the sofa in her room. She praised, “You did a great job of cooking.”

“Thank you.”

“We should wait for Mr Goenka,” Jenny said.

“Yeah, sure.”

Jenny was observing the room, she saw Samarth’s big photo hung on the wall when Aradhya was in the bathroom. She asked hesitantly, “Are you, Mrs Goenka?”

Aradhya stuck at her place and nodded her head, “Hmmm”.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”Jenny asked.

“I thought that you know about me,” Aradhya replied to hide her secret. In reality, she doesn't want to admit herself as Mrs Goenka.

"That girl told us that Mrs Goenka is not at home," Jenny said in disappointment and further said, "It's okay, finally, I met you." 

"Yes," Aradhya smiled.

"Since we came to India, I was really addicted to Indian culture and lifestyle. When we got to know that Mr Goenka is married and also have a joint family, I was so happy. This way, I would be able to meet an Indian family. So I dropped a condition to meet you," Jenny said with a teasing smile on her face and that also made Aradhya Smile.

"Hmmm,  let's go. Your hubby must be waiting for us." Aradhya said and both came back to the living room. Aradhya ended the conversation.

They are gossiping about some topics. Dadi and Sakshi entered the house, they got shocked when they saw guests. 

Dadi exclaimed, "You are...?" Dadi hot some idea as Ravi already told them. She gulped hard with guilt that Aradhya was stuck between them.

"Hello..., I'm Jacob and She is my wife Jenny." Jacob stood up from his seat and joined his hands towards Dadi. Dadi was shocked by his look.

"Ji, Hello. Please have a sit.." Dadi said to him. Sakshi also greeted them and moved towards Aradhya.

"Have you called Samarth?" Sakshi whispered in Aradhya's ears and Aradhya nodded negatively. Sakshi called Samarth, After three-ring he picked up the call, "Hi, Dii, I'm on the way, will be there in 5 minutes."

Sakshi hung up the call and shook her head with irritation. She was reviling Samarth for inviting them today. 

Sakshi went to the kitchen but there was a clean platform and food was placed on the dining table. Her eyes became wide because she and Dadi gave leave to the cook, so this must be cooked by Aradhya. They wished to bring close Aradhya and Samarth. And here, Aradhya had to do a lot of work and Samarth didn't come yet. She felt really very bad and guilty for their deed.

Samarth entered the house, he stucked at the door, because he saw Jacob. He slowly came inside and greeted, "Hello, Mr Lynn. You..a.?" 

"Hello, Mr Goenka. It's a surprise for you. Actually, I want to check your truth, so I came with Jenny. If I truly say, Jenny can't wait to meet you and your family, especially your wife," Jacob laughed and hugged him. Samarth also laughed and patted his back. They became close friends nowadays and the deal brought them closer than they thought ever. 

"This is very bad, at least you should inform me about your coming," Samarth said and they both sat on Sofa.

"Sorry, But we found a gem like a person here, we spent a very good time with your wife," Jenny said happily. The happiness was spread over her face.

"Just give me 10 minutes, I will be back." Samarth said and moved towards steps and all of sudden turned back, "Will you please come with me?" He looked at Aradhya and asked politely.

Aradhya coughed hard hearing him. She followed Samarth. When they entered the room, Samarth closed the door. 

"Couldn't you make a call to inform about them?" He yelled at her with anger pinning her at the back of the door.

"I have neither phone nor your number to call you. "Aradhya replied with an anger-filled voice. 

 "Ahhhh, Couldn't you make a call from the phone of Dii or Dadi?" He asked while his hands are messing with his hair.

"They were not at home, I was alone when they came." She replied but l with a little loud voice.

"Ohhh, God! Now move, let me arrange for Dinner," Samarth ordered intensely and push her aside.

" I cooked," Aradhya replied.

"What?" He paused at his place.

"I prepared dinner and they don't have a problem with Indian Food," She calmly retorted folding her hands at her chest.

Samarth didn't say anything and went to the bathroom. Aradhya went to the dining room, everyone already sat there and waiting for them.

"Where is Mr Goenka?" Jacob asked.

"Coming." She replied with a short smile.

Samarth came and took his seat. Everyone started eating, Dadi and Sakshi had their dinner but they also sat there to give them company and Sakshi wanted to help Aradhya to serve food.

Jacob and Jenny praised them for their cooking food. Samarth also liked the food, but this is Samarth, he never praised anyone, especially when the matter is related to Aradhya.

After a lot of gossiping, the guests left the home. Everyone went to their room. Aradhya was tired, she went to the closet and changed her clothes. Samarth was working on his laptop. When she came out, she saw him and shook her head.

"Which type of people in this world? who never knows to say thank you." She mumbled while laying down on the bed.

Samarth raised his brows, She hurriedly covered herself with the duvet.

"By the way, why should someone thank other people?" Samarth asked while continuing his work. 

She removed the duvet and sat on the bed, and raised her brows angrily, "I cooked food for your guests, didn't have any manner to say thanks."

"Nope, they came here to meet Mrs Goenka, so what you did, is your responsibility as Mrs Goenka," He smirked with his sinister scowl on his face.

"Devil.." She mumbled and laid on the bed.

When she covered her face with a duvet, Samarth smiled, (in a rare case, he smiled) He asked with smirked, "Do you want me to company you in the bed tonight?" 

She removed her duvet from her nose and glared at him, "Why should I need you?"

"Your nightmares."

She couldn't speak more. She was about to cover her face, Samarth said, "If you need me, I will be on the bed, but without a T-shirt. I can't bear you tear my branded T-shirts daily."

She angrily threw a pillow on him. Samarth caught the pillow in one hand and smiled. She was thinking about the nightmare, with that fear she slept. Samarth also slept after a few minutes, but on Sofa. He murmured, "Thanks, tigress. You saved my biggest deal."