I felt a pang of guilt, but I had to be honest. "Yes, but I promise after marriage, if you don't want me to stay in your room, I can move out or sleep on the couch. I won't touch-"
Anirudh cut me off, his expression unreadable. I wondered what he wa...
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I arrived home, and my family was already gathered at the dinner table, waiting for me. I quickly freshened up and joined them, trying to composed myself.
Just as I was about to take my first bite, Anuska's cold hand touched mine, and she asked,
"How was your first date?"
I tried to play it cool, responding with a simple "Achi thi" (It was good)
But Anuska wasn't satisfied with my brief response. She pressed on, asking,
"Achi? Bas achi?" (Good? Just Good?) Her tone hinted at her curiosity, and I knew I had to reveal more without giving away my true feelings.
I tried to downplay the excitement, saying "Haan"(Yes) casually, but Anuska was not having it.
"Ruko, abhi bhabi ko phone lagati hun" (Wait let me call my sister in law)
Anushka picks up her phone, and maa and papa start laughing and giggling.
"Nahin Nahin. Bata raha hun" (No,no, I am telling you) I takes the phone from her hand and puts it back on the table.
"Ye hui na baat. Start" (now it's done. Let's start)
My parents started laughing and giggling, and Anushka felt proud of herself for getting a rise out of me.
"From where?" I asked.
"Bhabi Kaisi dikh rahi thi?" (How was my daughter in law looking?)
And my mind went blank. All I could think of was Roop's face - her blushing cheeks, her open hair, her outfit, her jhumkas, and her words. I got lost in thoughts of her.
"Means beautiful," Anuska said.
"I didn't even say a word. How did you know?" I asked, surprised.
"From your expressions," she replied casually.
She asked many more questions, and I answered them all while blushing like hell.
"Acha beta, kuch naraz hone wali baat to nahi ki na uske samne?" (Son, didn't you say something to upset her?) Maa asked, concerned.
"Aisa kyun karunga me, maa?" (Why would I do that, mom?) I replied, frustrated.
"Nahin matlab, boss giri to nahi ki na bhabi ke samne?" (You didn't act like a boss in front of her, did you?) Anuska asked, and Maa added, "Exactly."
I tried to clarify, "Nahin maa, me kyun karunga aise? I like her-" but stopped mid-sentence, realizing what I was saying and to whom.
Papa gave a teasing smile to Maa and Anuska, who were now giggling at me. I couldn't help but blush, but it was poorly timed.
"Blushing, blushing! Haan?" Anuska said, shaking my shoulder.
"I knew it! Jis tarah se ghur raha tha na ye Roop beti ko, me to usi pal samajh gaya tha" (I knew it. The way he was looking at Roop, I understood it right then) Papa said, chuckling.
