Food To Die For, by Anumita Chugh

She looks up from the half demolished plate of paranthas and breaks into an unbelieving smile. “They are the best, mom! I can’t believe you made them just for me!” Her mother-in-law smiles proudly. “Thank you, beta. How can I not shower a little extra love on my son’s newly wedded wife? I want us to bond in a special way. We are going to be even closer than I was with Maya. His first wife? I was so distraught at her death. You remind me so much of her. She loved these paranthas so. I’ll make them especially for you every day, like I did for her.” Sukriti’s eyes mist over, “I am so lucky to have you for my mom-in-law!” Shashi smiles at her brand new daughter-in-law, “Now enjoy my special parnthas.” she says, as she turns around and quickly puts the lid on the tiny bottle of arsenic she uses to spice her special daughter-in-law paranthas.