55.
"Veer, did you call the delivery truck? We have to deliver the food in 3 hours," Preet shouted from the kitchen while she was packing food in disposable boxes.
"They are on the way! Is everything ready?" he said, coming into the kitchen to see the packed container piled up on the kitchen counter. And found his wife working behind the piles of boxes.
He walked near her and sighed seeing her so stressed. She looks at Veer while her hands rapidly working to close on the lids of boxes.
"Preet sit down let me do it," he said and started helping her.
"Hope everything went well. I am so worried, Veer," she said as she looked at him nervously.
"Don't worry everything will be good," he assured her and then forcefully made her sit on the chair.
They got a very huge order from one of the prestigious colleges of the city for the fest festival. They have to prepare snacks for around 1000 people. It's a big deal for them.
"Yes, Beta everything will be okay," Preet turns to a woman,who is in her early forties, smiles.
"Hope so, Radha Aunty," Preet said.
"When you have to go for the check up, Veer beta?" Roop, who is also in her forties, asked while she was placing tissue papers and cutlery in the box.
"Next week Aunty ji," she nodded as he informed her.
Preet looks around her house which is filled with women and boxes. A grateful smile was there on her face.
"Preet eat this. You didn't eat anything because of work," Preet gave a sheepish smile when a woman, of the same age of others, glared at her, placing a plate of sprouts and juice for her.
"Reema Aunty, she never listens to me. Only you can make her do things. Scold her from my side also," Veer said, placing packed boxes aside.
Preet pout cute when Reema was about to scold but she sigh seeing her innocent face.
"Don't fall for her face, Ma," comes a girly voice before a beautiful girl walks into the kitchen.
Preet narrows her eyes at her, making the girl gulp and smile nervously.
"Umm…ah, Is everything ready ladies? I have to reach college with the food in an hour,"
"Ha, Nikki everything is ready. We are just waiting for the delivery boy to come with the truck," Preet said and about to stand but the woman named Reema glared at her eye the plate and juice.
"Nikki di, see I helped Mumma in stick card," Riddi come running to them while smiling widely as she show them a packed box where she attached a thank you card.
Everyone chuckles at her while Nikki gives her a kiss on her cheek.
"Thank you Piddi!!" Nikki teases, making her pout angrily.
Riddi snapped her head toward Veer who was chuckling hearing Nikki while he and another man, who is Riddhi's father, are sticking numbers in the boxes.
"Angel, I will beat this Veeru Peeru one day then don't scold me," she said in her frustrated baby voice.
"Riddhi!! He is elder to you," Riddhi rolled her eyes when her mother scolded her lightly.
"Yes!! Viddhi di, ask this girl to respect me," Veer said, playing with her to irritate her more.
"Mamma, we will take Angel and her baby with us to our house," She said, which made everyone laugh at her.
Preet was constantly smiling while hearing them and feeling blessed to find a family in these people who were nothing but strangers to her and Veer.
"Then I will also kidnap your baby brother or baby sister when it will come," Veer smirks, making her whine and run to her mother who was sitting on the sofa.
"I won't let you. I will beat you with my sword," she threatened him, hugging her mother with her small palm on her mother's baby bump.
Veer chuckled and shook his head while everyone laughed enjoying the free show.
You all must be wondering who these people are, right? Well they are now part of Preet's startup business which she started almost 5 months ago. They all are their neighbors and very kind and belong to middle class families.
(Flashback)
Almost 1 months ago, Preet got an order for a full meal for 100 people.
She got panicked and stressed thinking how she would manage all this work.
She was alone at home that day and so she went to the market to buy the groceries to start the preparation as she can't just sit like that in worry.
And when she entered her street, she fainted, a few meters away from her house, due to all the stress and exhaustion.
And at the same time Nikk,i who is a college student, was coming behind her ran to her and called her Ma, that is Reema, and other women of the locality also came running hearing Nikki's shout.
Reema when saw unconscious Preet, she asked her son to take her inside their house. All the ladies also come inside, worried for Preet and also curious to know about the new residence in their colony.
Nikki brought water which Reema asked for and sprinkled water on Preet's face.
After spraying water a few more times, when Preet finally moved her eyelashes, everyone's face lit up as they sigh in relief.
Preet slowly opens her tired eyes and blink a few times before the blurriness slowly disappears. Preet frowns seeing various new faces that she never saw and blink her eyes again.
"Isn't she so beautiful!"
"She is, Radha. She shifted in that old house few months ago with a young handsome man,"
"Boyfriend hai kya? She isn't looking like a married woman to me,"
"Arre, Seems like you are getting old, Uma? Can't you see her mangalsutra, huh?"
"Or nahi toh kya, see how wrinkles are visible on her face. Aren't you using that face mask I gave you?"
"Are bahen ab kya batau ghar ke kaam-"
"Arre chup karo sab…beta are you okay," the whispers quiet down as Reema said when she saw Preet closing her eyes tightly and holding her head.
"Bachchi dara gyi lagta hai hum sab ko dekh kr," someone whispered looking at Preet who is now looking at her surroundings in confusion and fear.
"Hum itne daravne toh nhi lagte hai, kyu Reema," Reema rolled her eyes at them then looking at Preet.
Preet suddenly sat up but then she remembered about her baby making her place her palm on her belly protectively.
"Are you okay, beta Ji? You fainted in front of my house," Reema softly said, making Preet light calm, then she looked at other women who smiled at her lovingly.
She remembered she was coming back from the market and then when she entered the locality she suddenly blacked out.
She looked at everyone nervously, they were staring at her amusingly and gave them a nervous smile.
"I am sorry Aunty. I unnecessarily troubled you all," she said, feeling guilty for troubling them.
Reema smiled shaking her head,
"No dear, don't be sorry when you are not at fault. How are you feeling now? "
"I am better now. Thank you Aunty. I think I should go now," she said and about to stand when one of the lady stop and made her sit again,
"You shifted in that old house a few months ago, right?" The lady named Radha asked, wanted to talk with her.
"Ji," Preet politely said with a small smile.
"We never saw you, how?" Uma asked with a frown.
"I…um,"
"Arre gossip queens, let her breath and what's with this interrogation, huh? Instead of asking for juice or tea, you guys start investigating her like she is some criminal," Nikki said, coming there with tea for everyone. She smiled at Preet.
"Please don't mind them. We all are from the same locality as you. They all get excited really soon. And they love talking and gossiping about anything and everything, …" Nikki's words offended them and one of them lightly smacked her head. Nikki whines which make Preet giggle.
"Would you like some tea?" Nikki asked her as she poured tea in a cup.
Preet felt nauseous as the smell of tea hit her nose making her cover her nose to stop the urge to throw up. Everyone notices her covering her nose and frowns at her behavior.
"Please take it away…," Preet said, making Nikki confused but she still placed the tray away from her.
"What happened? Is there any problem, dear?" Reema asked, noticing her slightly pale face.
"I feel nauseous because of the tea's fragrance. I can't handle it," she said in a whisper, hoping they would not know about her pregnancy, which is quite impossible.
Few ladies grasp while others frown hearing them grasp.
"Are you by chance pregnant, dear," Radha whispered to her in a gentle voice while their eyes went to her in surprise.
Preet felt nervous yet she is feeling relaxed in their presence. They all seem very nice and kind to her.
Preet nodded slowly and smiled a little.
"What?! Really!!" they exclaim in surprise making Preet look at them while Reema smiles.
"Bless you and your baby, beta ji," Uma said and patted her head to which Preet smiled widely and felt tears in her eyes. She sniffed softly, making everyone scared.
"Arre, why are you crying sweetheart? Sorry if we offend you dear…." Preet shook her head and wiped her tears before looking at them.
"You didn't, Aunty Ji. I just get overwhelmed very easily these days," she said, making all of them smile at her cuteness and politeness.
"It's normal in Pregnancy. I also used to get overwhelmed and started crying when I was carrying my first child. My husband used to get so frustrated but poor him can't even show it because that would again make me cry,
" One of the women named Roop said then giggled to herself which made others laugh.
Preet giggled at this. She remembers how Veer got panicked whenever she started tearing up without any reason.
They all stop laughing when suddenly Preet's phone rings in her purse. She pulled out her phone and her eyes immediately brightened up seeing Veer's number.
She looked up at the ladies who got busy with themselves maybe after seeing her blushing.
"You can talk, we won't disturb," One of them teased her, making her cheeks redder.
Preet picked up the call and before she could say anything Veer asked her,
"Preet, did you have your lunch?"
"Not yet, I went to market-"