Chapter 33
Aditi's Perspective
Few months later
The morning light filtered softly through my bedroom window, but my nerves made it hard to appreciate its beauty. Today was the day—the CLAT results were about to be announced, and I had been up since 6 a.m., my heart racing with anticipation. I opened my laptop, the familiar website already pulled up, my fingers hovering over the keyboard.
In a surprising comfort, I had donned Kabir's hoodie, the soft fabric wrapping me in warmth and familiarity. It still smelled like him—a mix of his cologne and something uniquely Kabir. We were still just friends, but this hoodie felt like a shield against the anxiety swirling inside me.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. Just then, I heard a soft knock on my door.
"Aditi, are you okay?" It was my mom, her voice tinged with concern.
"I'm fine, Mom! Just... waiting," I called back, forcing a smile even though I could feel the butterflies in my stomach.
"Can I come in?" she asked gently.
"Sure," I replied, glancing back at the screen. My heart thudded harder as I watched the seconds tick by.
My mom entered, followed closely by Anaya, my little sister, clutching her stuffed bunny. "Are you still nervous, didi?" she asked, her big eyes searching mine.
"A little," I admitted, managing a small smile for her. "But it's going to be okay, I think."
"Why don't you take a deep breath?" Anaya suggested, sounding wise beyond her five years. "Like this." She exaggerated a big inhale, puffing her cheeks out before releasing a loud whoosh.
I chuckled at her antics, appreciating her innocent perspective. "Okay, okay! Let's do it together," I said, joining her in the exaggerated breathing.
My mom laughed softly, joining in. "See, Aditi? You have your little cheerleader here. Just remember, no matter what happens, we're proud of you."
"Yeah, di! You're the best!" Anaya exclaimed, bouncing on her toes. "And if you don't get the score you want, we can always have ice cream! Even if it's freezing outside, we'll have ice cream like we're in summer!" She spread her arms wide, her excitement radiating as if she were imagining a sunny beach day.
"Absolutely," my dad chimed in from the doorway, leaning against the frame with a warm smile. "Ice cream makes everything better. And remember, this is just one step in a much bigger journey."
"Exactly," my mom added, sitting beside me on the bed. "Your hard work and determination are what truly matter. The results don't define you."
"Okay," I murmured, feeling the warmth of their words seep into my anxious thoughts. "I guess I just wanted to do well... for everyone."
"We believe in you, Aditi," my dad said firmly, his eyes shining with confidence. "Just give yourself a moment to breathe."
I nodded, feeling slightly more grounded. The warmth of my family and the laughter from Anaya began to ease my nerves. "Thanks, you guys," I said, my voice steadier now. "I really appreciate it."
Anaya grinned, reaching up to give me a big hug. "You can do it, didi! And if you need more cheering, I'll be right here!"
I hugged her tightly, overwhelmed with love. "I know you will, little champ."
Just then, the moment we had been waiting for arrived—the notification popped up on my screen: CLAT Results are out! Click to view.
"OMG! It's here!" I screamed, my heart racing faster than ever. The realization hit me like a rush of adrenaline, and I quickly clapped a hand over my mouth to calm myself down. "Okay, okay. I need to breathe. Deep breaths, Aditi!"
"Didi, are you okay?" Anaya asked, eyes wide.
"I'm fine! But can you do me a favor?" I said, turning to her with a mix of excitement and anxiety. "I need you to click on 'Show Results.' You can be Kanjak Devi for me right now, okay?"
Anaya's face lit up. "Kanjak Devi? Okay!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands with glee. "Let's do it together!"
We both closed our eyes tightly, our palms pressed together as if in prayer. "On the count of three!" I said. "One... two... three!"
"Click!" Anaya squealed, and I opened my eyes, peeking at the screen. The page began to load, my heart pounding louder with every passing second.
As the results finally appeared, I felt a whirlwind of emotions flooding through me. "Okay, let's look!" I said, holding my breath.
As the door clicked shut behind them, I took a moment to absorb the joy of the morning. With a smile plastered on my face, I headed to the kitchen, my mind racing with ideas for lunch. Today was a special day, and I wanted it to reflect that. I opened the kitchen cabinets, searching for inspiration, when I remembered something.
The Sanjeev Kapoor cookbook my dad used to use was in my almirah. I dashed to my room, excitement bubbling inside me. This wasn't just any cookbook; it was the one my dad had used to cook for my mom and me before everything changed. Memories flooded back of the sweet and savory aromas wafting through our home as he experimented with different recipes. I wanted to bring some of that warmth into our day.
I pulled the well-worn book from the shelf, careful not to damage the pages that had seen so much love. Flipping through the pages, I found a recipe for paneer tikka masala—one of our family favorites. That had to be the centerpiece of my meal. With a sense of determination, I gathered the ingredients: fresh paneer, yogurt, a blend of spices, and some vibrant bell peppers. As I lined everything up on the counter, I felt like a chef in my own kitchen.
"Okay, Aditi, you got this!" I said aloud, mentally cheering myself on. I meticulously followed the recipe, marinating the paneer in yogurt and spices. The vibrant colors of the ingredients sparked joy, and I couldn't help but smile as I mixed everything together.
Once the paneer was marinating, I glanced around the kitchen, contemplating what else to make. A memory flashed in my mind: my mom's rich, fudgy brownies. "Those would be the perfect dessert!" I thought, already picturing the gooey chocolate goodness melting in my mouth.
With renewed energy, I gathered the ingredients for the brownies—flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and of course, lots of chocolate. I could almost hear my mom's cheerful voice guiding me through the recipe as I began to prepare.
"Just like she taught me!" I murmured to myself, laughing as I remembered all the times we had baked together. I melted the chocolate and butter in a bowl, the rich scent filling the kitchen as I stirred it until it was smooth and glossy.
While the brownies baked, I returned to the paneer tikka. I carefully skewered the marinated pieces, adding bell peppers for color before placing them on the grill pan. The sizzle as they hit the heat sent a thrill through me. "This is actually happening!" I thought, my heart racing with excitement.
As the delicious aroma filled the kitchen, I felt a wave of happiness wash over me. Cooking was so much more than just making food—it was about creating memories, sharing love, and celebrating togetherness. I was determined to make this meal special for my family.
Once everything was ready, I meticulously plated the paneer tikka masala in a beautiful serving dish and set the brownies in the center for dessert.
As I set the table, arranging everything with care, I couldn't help but feel proud of what I had created. "This is going to be the best meal ever," I said to myself, my heart swelling with pride.
Just then, I heard the door creak open, and my family walked in, their laughter filling the room. "It smells amazing in here!" my mom exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she saw the table.
"Welcome back!" I said, beaming as I gestured to the meal I had prepared. "I made paneer tikka masala and brownies for dessert!"
Anaya's eyes widened in excitement. "Yay! I can't wait!" she squealed, rushing to the table.
My dad looked at the spread with a proud smile. "Wow, Aditi, this looks incredible! You really went all out!"
"I had to celebrate my big news!" I replied, feeling my cheeks flush with happiness. "Let's dig in!"
As we gathered around the table, laughter and joy filled the air, making this moment feel even more special. The delicious food and our shared stories made the day unforgettable, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for the love and support of my family.
"Here's to Aditi!" my dad said, raising his glass. "For achieving such a fantastic rank and for this amazing meal!"
"Cheers!" we all chimed in, laughter and clinking glasses echoing in the warm kitchen.
The rest of the afternoon was filled with joyous conversations, the warmth of family enveloping us as we shared stories and laughter. Today was a celebration of love, memories, and new beginnings.
As I looked around at my family, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I had created something special—not just a meal, but a moment of happiness that we would remember for a long time.
As the evening rolled on, Anaya and I were out shopping, and for the first time, I didn't feel the weight of studying looming over me. "Kya yaar, pehli baar study karne ka mann nahi hai!" I exclaimed, shaking my head with a chuckle. The thrill of my recent success in the CLAT results kept me buzzing with excitement.
After a fun-filled shopping spree, I headed back home, still riding high on the joy of my achievement. Suddenly, a thought struck me. I had packed the delicious paneer tikka masala and brownies I'd cooked earlier in the day in a tiffin box. I decided it was time to pay Kabir a visit. It had been two months since we'd spent time together, and with the JEE Mains exam approaching next month, I felt like this was the perfect moment to reconnect.
"Anaya, I'm going to Kabir's place," I announced as I grabbed my bag.
"Okay, di! I'll see you later!" Anaya waved, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
As I made my way to Kabir's home, a flutter of excitement danced in my stomach. When I knocked on the door, I could hardly contain my smile. When he opened it, my heart swelled. Despite the dark circles under his eyes, his face lit up with a smile upon seeing me.
"Hey," he greeted, a mixture of surprise and warmth in his voice.
"Hey! I brought you something," I said, holding up the tiffin.
We stepped inside, and I noticed the house was quiet. "Where's everyone?" I asked, glancing around.
"Not home right now," he replied, his smile growing wider as he opened the tiffin. "What's this?"
"Just my little celebration," I said, my eyes sparkling with excitement. "I got AIR 18!"
Kabir paused, and before I could say anything more, he pulled me into a tight hug. "I knew it! It was obvious because you worked so hard, Aditi!" His voice brimmed with genuine pride.
As we pulled apart, I couldn't help but grin, reminded of Nathan Hawkins' jersey number from the book Icebreaker. "It reminds me of Nathan Hawkins! It's like my lucky number now!"
I watched as Kabir's face shifted into a playful pout, a hint of jealousy in his eyes. "So, you're saying you've got your own Nathan Hawkins now, huh?"
I laughed, shaking my head. "Not quite! But I'm still on cloud nine!"
"Well, I can carry you like Nathan Hawkins, you know," he teased, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.
"Achha ji?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow.
"Haan ji," he replied, leaning down as if to pick me up when his phone suddenly rang. It was Raghav, and Kabir let out an exasperated sigh. "Ye to yahan bhi nahi hai, phir pareshaan kar diya!"
He answered the call, his tone quick and slightly annoyed. "Bhejiye the notes, tujhe message check kar le." He hung up, turning back to me, a grin breaking through his earlier annoyance.
"What was that about?" I asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.
"Just Raghav being Raghav," he replied with a chuckle.
I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around him and resting my head in the crook of his neck. "Don't overwork yourself, Kabir. You'll do great! Aur ab to main bhi nahi hoon competition dene ke liye, ab kis baat ki chinta hai?"
He chuckled softly, enjoying the comfort of my embrace. Pulling back slightly, I kissed his forehead gently.
"By the way," he said, eyeing my hoodie, "I see you're wearing my hoodie."
"Yup!" I replied with a playful smile.
"Now I want this one," he said, pointing at the hoodie I was wearing.
"Okay, but why?" I asked, confused.
"Because both are mostly the same," I added, trying to reason with him.
"Nope," he said, shaking his head. "The one you're wearing will have my frosty's fragrance, and I want it. You take the one I'm wearing, okay? Toh yeh frosty ka magic bhi toh hona chahiye na!"
I chuckled, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "You're ridiculous!"
"But you love it," he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
With laughter filling the kitchen, we exchanged hoodies, and I felt giddy with joy. "Alright, I'm off," I said, my heart lighter than ever.
"Take care, frosty!" he called after me, the warmth in his eyes promising that this was just the beginning of many more joyful moments to come.
As I walked out, a rush of happiness washed over me. With every interaction, our bond felt stronger, and I couldn't wait to see where this journey would take us next.