Swati Sandeep- Familiar Stanger- Akshu's pregnancy cravings

Pregnancy is a beautiful experience for women, but for the men surrounding her, it might be the most testing time of their lives. Dhruv was feeling the weight of the situation. His lovely wife was seven months pregnant and refused to rest. It did not help that she was carrying twins. Though the doctors and his own twin assured him that Akshu was as healthy as a horse he could not help worrying. 

“Aur bana rahe ho aap? (What are you cooking?)” Akshu shot him an annoyed look. 

Dhuv looked up and saw her struggling to sit on the kitchen counter. His heart almost skipped a beat. The woman refused to listen to reason. Before he would react, Dheer reached out a hand to steady her.

“Aram se (Careful), Bahbhi. Let me help.” He hoisted her onto the counter carefully.

Dhriti gave Dhruv a gentle pat. She was sure her twin suffered a mini heart attack. At this rate he would be getting grey hairs before the babies were born. “She is fine, breathe.” She whispered in encouragement.

Dheer let out a little sigh. “The kitchen table is more comfortable, Akshu.”

That was the wrong thing to say. Akshu’s beautiful eyes filled with tears. “Why don’t you want me to sit here, Dhruv? Don’t you like spending time with me anymore?”

Dhruv’s eyes widened in shock. “When did I say that? I only meant that it’s difficult for you to hop up and down….”

“You are calling me clumsy?”

Dhruv shook his head, no matter what he said was a strike against him. He could already see that Dheer was ready to pounce on him.

“Are you calling me fat?” Akahu challenged. Her emotions were all over the place.

“He was saying that he is worried for you.” Dhriti spoke up before her lovely twin could dig a digger hole for himself. “There is so much heat here. It’s not good for you.”

“I am not made of glass.” Akshu shot back, annoyed. She was done with the way the siblings treated her, as if she was a porcelain doll. “I am pregnant, not sick.”

“Ofcouse, Bahbhi.” Dheer gently reached for her hand. “Ignore them. Aap bolo aap kya khaoge? (Tell me what you want to eat?)”

“Tu banayega? (Will you make it?)” Akshu looked horrified.

“Ofcouse not! Bhaiya kis din kaam ayenge? Batao kya khana hai aapko? (What is Bhaiya there for? Tell me what you want and he will make it for you.”

“Anything?” Akshu looked at her husband.

“Anything.” Dhruv agreed.

“I want those road side noodles that Dev got for me when we used to stay in India. They were yummy.” Her mouth salivated. “I want to eat it, Dhruv. Please bana do na. (Please make it for me.)”

Dhruv cringed. The roadside noodle used excessive amounts of chinese salt and sauces that he would never use in his kitchen. “Can we think about something healthy?”

“Aap humesha aise he kartey ho, Dhruv. (You always do this, Dhruv.)” Akshu accused, her eyes filling up again. “You never cook anything good for me.”

“Those are unhealthy, Askhu….”

Dheer did not let him finish. “Arey! Aap banaoge to unhealthy kaise hoge? (How will it be unhealthy when you cook?)”

Dhruv's eyes glinted. “Chup rehney ka kya lega? (What will you take to keep your mouth shut?)”

“Tere jootey. (Your shoes.)” Dhriti said with a wicked smile.

“Stop bullying him.” Dev’s voice cut through, startling them. Akshu almost hopped down, this time Dhruv had to hold her back to break the fall. 

“Kya kar rahe ho, Akshu. (What are you doing, Akshu?)”

Akshu did not pay him attention, pushed him aside and rushed to Dev’s side. “Did you get them?”

Dev pulled a chair for her and helped her sit. “I got you the noodles, but I don’t know if they taste the same. But the guy swears that it tastes like Indian street food.”

Dheer grabbed plates and set them for Akshu. Dev opened the packet, Dhruv tried to stop, but Dhriti held him back. “Let her eat.” She hissed under her breath.

“But…”

“Ek aur baar unhealthy kahan to main he marunge. (If you say it’s unhealthy again, I will whack you myself.) Let the babies build some immunity.”

Dhruv gave her an annoyed glare.

“This tastes nothing like those noodles.” Akshu sighed. Dhruv could hear the tears behind her voice. The water works would start anytime. He grabbed the plate from the table before she could break down in tears.

“Kya kar rahe ho aap? (What are you doing?)” Dheer gave him an annoyed look.

“If you don’t keep your mouth shut, I will not hesitate to belt you.” Dhruv threatened. 

“That’s mean, Bhaiya.” Dev shot back. “Bhabhi dekho Bhaiya kaise Big-B ko maar rahe hai. (Look Bhabhi, Bhaiya is hitting, Big-B.)”

Dhruv raised his hand and whacked Dheer hard. Dheer stifled a wince. The youngest Randhawa always got him into trouble. 

“This is called hitting. Now your complaint is valid.”

Akshu glared at him. Dhruv glared right back, “Do you want those noodles or not?”

“You are being mean, Dhruv/Bhaiya.” Akshu, Dhriti and the boys said together.

Dhruv ignored them and tossed the noodles in the wok. They always teamed up against him, and now he had learned to live with it. If he did not take a firm stand, those four could walk all over him. He grabbed the ingredients and tossed them into the wok. He knew what was missing. Just because he did not agree, did not mean he could not give his wife what she desired. He tossed the noodles and set another pot to prepare soup. That was his compromise. He would give her what she wanted, but he would make sure she ate healthy. 

Soon the kitchen filled with a delicious aroma. Dhriti’s mouth watered and she reached out to taste. Dhruv swatted her hand away. “That’s for her.”

“Are ek bite se kya ho jayega? (What will happen if I take one bite?)”

“You don’t have the excuse of pregnancy so you are not touching those damn noodles.” He plated them quickly and set it before his wife.  

“Will they taste the same?" Akshu gave him a skeptical look.

Dhruv sighed, scooped up the noodles and brought it to her lips. “Humor me.”

She ate to humor him and then almost swooned in delight. They tasted absolutely the same. She dug into the noodles enthusiastically. The siblings sighed in relief. 

“Did you get more of those?” Dheer looked at Dev.

Dev bobbed his head, he got it for the entire family, but was hiding it from his Bhaiya. Dheer grabbed the bag and handed it to Dhruv. “Now prepare them for us.”

Dhruv crossed his arms and glared at him. “Are you pregnant?"

Dheer rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around his Bhaiya. He knew which buttons to push. “Please banado na. Bohot man kar raha hai khane ka. (Please make them for us. I really want to eat.”

Just like he knew, Dhruv melted and grabbed the noodles. He winked at Dhriti, who mouthed a silent thank you. Dheer chuckled and grabbed a knife to dice onions for the soup. He was no longer the helpless Dheer who was clueless in the kitchen. Dhruv taught him with patience and he was finally picking up. One day he wanted to surprise his family with a decent meal, until then he would learn. He was determined.