She stopped moving the spatula and stood motionless focussing, 'Perhaps I can catch a byte of their whisper, the lady is upto something' she thought as her mind spiralled into suspicion.
Her husband Wajid had been discussing hardships at work with his mother and requesting her to pray for him. "Let's keep our voices low, let not Shehla be bothered with my tension, she is already overwhelmed by the care that our new born child requires" he had cautioned mother at the start of their conversation.
Mother noticed from the corner of her eye that daughter in law had stopped stirring food, she could read her body language and make out that Shehla was trying to sneak into their conversation albeit from afar.
'Look how she is trying to spy on us, do I not understand...How dare she!' thought mother.
"Assalamoalaikum baaji" a sudden voice tore into everything that was happening in the house right now.
"O! Come on in, Walekumassalam, Sarwat" said mother noticing the neighbour standing at her door.
"Heard that Wajid and Shehla have come from Bangalore, so came to meet them" said the elderly neighbour placing her hand on Wajid's head, "How is your job going there?" She asked.
"Its all well" he replied.
"Where is your daughter in law?" She enquired turning to his mother again.
"Come Shehla, look who's here to meet you" called mother.
"Assalamoalikum aunty" chirped Shehla landing right in front.
The neighbour touched her chin gently, "Must say your daughter in law is so beautiful"
"O! Do not call her my daughter in law, she is my daughter, isn't it my love?" said mother smiling at Shehla.
"Yes mother, I am fortunate to be that way in this house" she replied.
"What mutual love and trust" said the neighbour as both mother and Shehla looked at each other and grinned. ●●●
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