Chapter Thirteen

Kinjal was watching her daughter really carefully the entire time they were having dinner. Today, they just ended up having dinner late, and while Khushi was still smiling away at her food, Kinjal was watching it all.

At the end of dinner, Khushi took everyones plate and left to the kitchen and started to wash them. Karan was confused at first but then didn't put to much mind to it, knowing how his daughter was, so he left upstairs and went back to work.

Kinjal joined Khushi in the kitchen and looked at her daughter. Khushi didn't even have a clue and she continued washing the dishes, smiling, not even looking at them. As Khushi dried the dishes, she was still looking straight forward, smiling. She went to put a plate away, but missed. The plate was about to fall and Kinjal was about to grab it, but Khushi caught it, not even looking at it. Kinjal sighed in relief and blew her hair out of her face, shaking her head at her daughter.

Khushi finished and wiped her hands with the dish towel and headed upstairs to her room. Once inside, she immediately lied down on her tummy, holding onto her pillow. Kinjal came in and sat next to Khushi and watched her. Khushi didn't had a clue and Kinjal smiled and stroked Khushi's hair.

Khushi then snapped back to reality and looked at her mother. "Oh, Ammi. I'm sorry, I didn't realize."

"I can see that."

Khushi moved and lied down on her mothers lap. After a while, Kinjal took her chance.

"So what are you thinking about?"

"What do you mean," Khushi replied, trying not to let her mother figure anything out.

"You know'. I mean, you're always smiling, so'."

"What? Psht! No I'm not."

"Sweetheart, you are right now."

Khushi looked side to side and snuggled in closer, Kinjal chuckling.

"Tell me Kush."

"Ma, it's nothing."

"Which means it is."

"No Ma, it doesn't."

"You're saying "Ma" and that means it does."

"Amma!"

"Now you're complaining."

Khushi sighed deeply and sunk into her mothers lap.

"Will you tell me, or shall I tell you?"

"W-what will you tell me," Khushi asked, taking her chances.

"That' I'd say'" she stroked her hair, "that you're in love."

Khushi sat up immediately. "Are you serious?"

Kinjal smiled lightly. "I know sweetie. I fell in love once, too. I can tell just by the look on your face."

"My face?"

She nodded. "You have that look on your face. Always smiling, just thinking about him. You don't purposely, but he just comes into your mind. You can't help yourself, but he just happens to cross your mind. And when you try to stop, you think of him even more. He just makes you feel happy and makes you smile, without even a reason. Everything else just gets blocked out. It's like the world around you doesn't even exist, but yet another sense tells you what's going on." She chuckled. "That's why you knew the plate was falling."

Khushi looked away, embarrassed. Her mother had figured her out like a book.

Kinjal caressed her hair and stroked it. "It's okay sweetie. It happens."

Khushi didn't say anything.

"I won't bother you about it if you're not comfortable. Hmm?"

Kinjal got up to leave, and Khushi argued with herself.

Should I tell her? What would I say? That I think I'm in love?

Kinjal was at the door.

What about the dream? Should I tell her?

Kinjal opened the door and was about to leave, when Khushi called her.

"Ammi?"

Kinjal turned and looked back. "Yes baby?"

"... goodnight..."

Kinjal smiled and blew her a kiss. "Goodnight love."

Kinjal shut the door and left. Khushi sighed and groaned. "What the hell Kush?!"

She groaned again and turned off her lights and went to bed.