Aryan went to bring Max, while Aanya waited inside the car.
After a while, Aryan came back with Max.
As soon as Aanya saw him, she got out of the car.
Max also saw Aanya, ran toward her, and jumped happily.
Aanya smiled, bent down, and hugged him.
"I know you missed me."
"I missed you too."
Max wagged his tail happily.
Aryan looked at Aanya while she was playing with Max.
Suddenly, Aanya noticed that he was watching her.
Aryan immediately turned his face away.
Aanya stood up and said,
"Let's go."
Aryan nodded, and they left.
Later, at the house, in the kitchen...
Devika smiled.
"Aanya beta, don't worry. Me and Prerna will help you."
Suddenly, they heard a voice.
"What help?"
The three of them turned around.
It was Nandini.
Devika replied,
"Sister-in-law, it will be difficult to cook for everyone, so that's why…"
Nandini interrupted,
"What are you saying, Devika?"
Devika became silent.
Nandini continued,
"Well, this is a tradition, right?"
"Don't you know that?"
Prerna tried to speak.
"But, Aunt…"
Nandini cut her off.
"Prerna, this is elders' talk."
"You don't know about it."
Prerna stopped talking.
Aanya looked at Nandini.
Nandini continued,
"You both will not help Aanya."
Just then, Sudha came in.
"Ma'am, can I help?"
Everyone looked at Sudha.
Nandini said sternly,
"Didn't I tell you to leave?"
"Why are you still here?"
Sudha lowered her head.
"Sorry, Ma'am."she said and left.
Nandini then turned to Devika.
"I hope you remember that I'm your sister-in-law... and that you respect my decisions."
Devika replied,
"But, Sister-in-law…"
Nandini interrupted again.
"If yes, then don't say anything and let Aanya cook on her own."
Devika looked at Aanya worriedly.
Nandini looked at Aanya.
"You need to cook for ten people."
Aanya was shocked.
Nandini continued,
"All the vegetables and ingredients are here."
Aanya looked at all the vegetables and cooking ingredients placed on the counter.
Nandini continued,
"Make rotis, three types of curries, rice, dal, papad, raita, and one sweet."
Everyone was shocked after hearing the menu.
Devika immediately said,
"This many?"
"And that too for ten people?"
"It will be very difficult, Sister-in-law."
Nandini smiled.
"Devika, please."
"Don't you remember?"
"When you got married to my brother, you also cooked for this many people."
Devika replied,
"But, Sister-in-law, that time was different."
Nandini said,
"Devika, I know you love your daughter-in-law and don't want her to work."
"But it's just for today, right?"
"So why are you thinking so much?"
Then she looked at Aanya.
"And I don't think you have any problem with it... right, Aanya?"
Aanya understood that Nandini was doing it on purpose to test her.
She confidently replied,
"Yes, Aunty."
"No problem."
Nandini gave a fake smile.
"See?"
"She doesn't have any problem."
"So let's all go so that we could let her do her work."
"Aanya, you have nearly three hours."
"Prepare everything, okay?"
Aanya also gave a fake smile.
"Yes."
Devika and Prerna felt bad and left the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Nandini thought,
Aanya... today you'll regret marrying into this house.
I know you can't cook this much food.
Let's see how I insult you in front of everyone.
After taking a deep breath, Aanya said to herself,
"You can do it, Aanya. Don't be tense. Be patient."
Then she started cooking one dish after another.
From a distance, Nandini watched her and thought,
"She won't be able to finish cooking everything on time."
Meanwhile, in the room, Prerna looked at Devika.
"Mom, why is Nandini Aunt behaving like this? I mean, okay, she doesn't like Aanya, but still... it's not fair."
Devika didn't say anything.
"Do something, Mom."
Devika and Prerna then went to the kitchen where Aanya was cooking.
"Aanya, beta..."
Aanya suddenly looked at her.
Devika smiled gently.
"No need to make so many varieties, okay?"
"It's okay, Aunty," Aanya replied.
"I'll try my best to cook as many dishes as possible. Don't worry about me."
Prerna stepped forward.
"Aanya, wait. Let me help with the chopping."
"It's okay, Prerna."
"Nandini Aunty told both of you not to help me. If she sees you helping me, she'll feel insulted."
Devika and Prerna looked at each other.
Devika smiled.
"Okay, beta. Just do as much as you can."
Aanya smiled back.
Later, Aryan came home and saw Aanya cooking.
He walked into the kitchen.
"What are you doing?"
Aanya looked at him.
"Mr. Aryan Mehra, can't you see? I'm cooking. Don't disturb me."
Aryan looked at the pile of vegetables and other ingredients.
"Why are there so many vegetables?"
"Well, it's for ten people."
"And Nandini Aunty gave me a menu to cook."
"What?"
"For ten people?"
Aryan looked around in disbelief.
"Then why are you cooking alone? Are you actually taking Nandini Aunty's words seriously?"
"Mr. Aryan, this is a tradition, so..."
"But still! You can't cook all this alone. Where are Mom and Prerna?"
He immediately called out,
"Mom!"
"Mr. Aryan, stop! What are you doing?"
Aryan looked at her.
"Why?"
"Nandini Aunty told everyone not to help me, so I have to do it myself."
Just then, Devika entered.
"Aryan, did you call me?"
"Mom, what are these stupid rules?"
At that moment, Nandini also arrived.
Aryan continued,
"How can Aanya cook for everyone alone? She isn't a maid."
Devika was about to speak, but Nandini interrupted.
"This is our tradition, Aryan."
Aryan looked at her.
"Every daughter-in-law does this."
"But still! Cooking so many dishes for so many people... how can Aanya do it alone?"
Nandini remained silent for a moment.
Then Aryan said firmly,
"Aanya will not do this."
Aanya whispered,
"Mr. Aryan, what are you doing?"
Devika tried to calm him.
"Aryan..."
Nandini looked at Aanya and said dramatically,
"You said you could cook, right? Then what is all this? Are you complaining about us to Aryan?"
"No... no, I didn't."
"You could have told me if you had a problem."
Aryan immediately replied,
"She didn't tell me anything. I'm asking myself."
Before he could continue, Aanya interrupted him.
"Aunty, I'll still say the same. I'll cook by myself."
Aryan looked at her.
"Mr. Aryan misunderstood. You all may go now. I'll cook by myself. I don't need any help."
Nandini smiled.
"See, Aryan? Your wife herself is saying she'll cook alone."
Aryan didn't say anything.
Devika and Nandini returned to their rooms.
Aanya looked at Aryan.
"Seriously, what have you done, Mr. Aryan? Did I ask you to question them? Why are you creating a scene?"
Aryan stayed silent.
"Please let me do my work, Mr. Aryan Mehra.
She went back to cooking.
After watching her for a moment, Aryan asked,
"Should I help?"
Aanya looked at him.
"Do you know how to cook?"
"No."
"Okay... then chop these vegetables this size."
She showed him the size and handed him the knife.
Aryan looked at the vegetables and started chopping.
After a few moments, Aanya glanced at them.
"Mr. Aryan... what are you doing?"
Aryan stopped chopping.
"What happened?"
"Do you even know how to chop vegetables? Look at the way you've cut them. They're not even the same size."
"Well... I've never done this before."
Aanya sighed.
"Okay, leave that. Let me do the chopping."
"Instead, make the roti dough."
She handed him the flour.
"Add water little by little and make a soft dough, okay?"
Aryan, who knew absolutely nothing about cooking, simply nodded.
"Okay."
He started making the dough...
...and poured in a huge amount of water.
Aanya turned and froze.
"Mr. Aryan! What are you doing?"
Aryan looked confused.
"What happened?"
"Why are you adding so much water? You're making a paste!"
"Well... no problem."
He immediately poured in a lot more flour.
Aanya's eyes widened.
"What are you doing, Mr. Aryan?"
"We're making dough for ten people, not twenty! Why did you add so much flour?"
"You said the consistency became like a paste... so I thought this would fix it."
Aanya pointed a finger at him.
"You...!"
"Mr. Aryan Mehra, are you really here to help... or to increase my work?"
"I was just—"
Before he could finish, Aanya interrupted,
"Mr. Aryan, please leave."
"Go away."
"I don't need your help."
Aryan looked at her awkwardly and, without saying another word, quietly left the kitchen.
Aanya prepared all the food.
Meanwhile, the guests arrived.
Devika, Nandini, and Prerna welcomed them.
After a while, Devika went to the kitchen and was shocked to see that Aanya had almost finished cooking everything.
Aanya looked at Devika.
"Aunty?"
Devika smiled in surprise.
"Aanya... you made almost everything?"
Aanya smiled.
"Well, you know, Aunty... I love cooking. Only the paneer curry is left."
Devika smiled.
"Well, the guests have arrived."
Aanya nodded.
"Only this curry is left, Aunty. I'll come after I finish it."
"Okay, beta."
Devika was about to leave when Aryan came into the kitchen.
He looked at Aanya, and Aanya also noticed him.
Devika asked,
"Aryan, what happened? Why did you come here?"
As Devika spoke with Aryan, Aanya kept looking at him angrily while adding salt to the paneer curry.
Unfortunately, without realizing it, she kept adding more and more salt.
After Devika left, Aryan looked at Aanya.
Aanya immediately looked away.
A few moments later, she tasted the curry.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh no!"
"What have I done?"
Aryan, who was about to leave, heard her and immediately walked back.
"What happened?"
Aanya glared at him.
"It's all because of you!"
"Now what should I do?"
Aryan frowned.
"What happened?"
Aanya sighed.
"Mr. Aryan Mehra, nothing. Can you please go?"
"But—"
"Please."
Aryan looked at her for a moment before quietly leaving.
Aanya tasted the curry again.
"Eww..."
"I added way too much salt."
"Wait... let me keep this aside so no one sees it first."
She placed the bowl in a corner.
Just then, Devika called from outside,
"Aanya beta, come once."
"Yes, Aunty."
As she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered the paneer curry.
What will I tell Nandini Aunty if she asks about it?
Oh no... what should I do?
I don't even have time to think.
She took a deep breath and walked into the living room.
Everyone looked at her.
Devika smiled proudly.
"This is Aryan's wife, Aanya."
Aanya folded her hands.
"Namaste."
One of the guests smiled.
"Now we know why Aryan got married in such a hurry. She is very beautiful."
Nandini silently controlled her anger.
Aryan looked at Aanya.
Devika smiled.
"Yes, she is."
Another guest asked,
"What are you studying, beta?"
"I'm in the final year of my BBA."
The guest smiled.
"Will you continue your studies even after marriage?"
Aanya became confused.
The guest looked at Devika.
"Devika, don't you have any problem with that?"
Devika also looked confused.
Nandini secretly felt happy.
Before Aanya could answer, Aryan spoke.
"What problem, Aunty?"
Everyone turned toward him.
"It's her choice whether she wants to continue her studies or do a job. What does it have to do with our opinions?"
Aanya felt happy.
So did Prerna and Devika.
Aryan continued,
"She will do whatever she wants."
The guests nodded and didn't say anything further.
Nandini controlled her irritation and said,
"Well, it's lunchtime. Come, let's eat."
Everyone sat down.
Meanwhile, Aanya, Prerna, and Devika brought all the dishes to the dining table.
As Prerna was arranging the dishes, she noticed a bowl kept in the corner of the kitchen.
"Hmm? Who kept this here?" she wondered.
It was the paneer curry.
Not thinking much about it, Prerna picked up the bowl and brought it to the dining table along with the other dishes.
Nandini was shocked to see the variety of food.
One of the guests said,
"Devika, so many dishes!"
Devika smiled proudly.
"Aanya made everything by herself."
The guests looked surprised.
"Really? She made all of this alone?"
"Yes."
Aanya smiled shyly.
Nandini said,
"Well, you all haven't tasted it yet."
Aanya felt disappointed.
Aryan looked seriously at Nandini.
Aanya smiled politely to Devika.
"Aunty, please sit. I'll serve everyone. I'm not hungry."
Nandini rolled her eyes.
Aanya began serving every dish.
Suddenly, she noticed the paneer curry on the table.
"Oh no!"
"Who brought this here?"
"I kept it in the corner."
Devika noticed her expression.
"Aanya, what happened? What are you thinking?"
"Nothing, Aunty."
Except for the paneer curry, she served every other dish.
Everyone started eating.
One of the guests smiled.
"Wow, Devika! Your daughter-in-law cooks so well. Everything is delicious."
Aanya smiled with relief.
Prerna grinned.
"Yes, Bhabhi. Everything is so good. You're really amazing."
Aanya smiled again.
Nandini also tasted the food.
To her surprise, every dish was excellent.
How is this possible?
This Aanya cooked everything perfectly.
Then she noticed that one dish had not been served.
She pointed toward it.
"Aanya, what's that?
Aanya looked where she was pointing.
"Well... I think it's the paneer curry."
"Then why didn't you serve it?"
After a brief pause, Aanya replied,
"Looks like I forgot."
Aryan noticed the tension on Aanya's face.
Devika smiled.
"No problem, beta."
But Nandini immediately said,
"Serve it to everyone."
Aanya forced a smile.
She picked up the bowl and walked toward Aryan.
As she was about to serve him, Aryan noticed that her hands were trembling.
Without saying a word, he deliberately nudged her hand.
The bowl slipped from her hands and crashed onto the floor.
Everyone looked in shock.
---
End Of Chapter 88.