*7 years later*
Alisha couldn't believe that time had passed so quickly. It has been 7 years since her parents agreed to her marriage with Advaith.
The memory still seemed fresh in her mind.
Her mother opened the door welcoming them inside.
“Tum dono ka hi intezar tha. Aao andar.”
Advaith took his place on Alisha's insistence and looked at her nervously rubbing his hands on his pants.
“Alisha? Ek baar kitchen mai aa toh mere saath.”
Advaith looked at her scared. Will she say she didn't like him? Will she try to convince Alisha out of her love for him?
Alisha assured him through her eyes and he ordered himself to relax. Oh! Easier said than done. His nervousness wasn't leaving anytime soon.
“Haan bolo.”
Alisha asked her mother as soon as they entered the kitchen.
“Ek baar sab cheezein chakh le. Waise toh maine bilkul wahi kra hai jo tune bola tha. Kuch extra nhi chheda par phir bhi ek baar taste krle.”
Alisha nodded and took bites of all the things she'd made.
“Perfect hai.”
“Chalo badiya hai. Chal bahar chalte hai ab. Achha nhi lgta dono akele baithe hai.”
Alisha nodded but stopped her mother.
“Mumma? Papa se baat kri thi aapne jo maine kaha tha?”
“Bola tha. Lekin wo thodi toh puchh tachh krenge na. Ab aise hi thodi na beti de denge beta. Baap hai.”
“Mai mana thodi kr rhi hu. Just please go easy on him ok. He's already gone through a lot.”
Her mother nodded and both of them went out.
She sat beside her mother making Advaith look at her with pleading eyes. He discreetly patted the sofa beside him asking her to join him. She gazed at her father and bit her lip.
Ahh! Fuck it! Her man needed her. She got up and slowly walked to him. She sat beside him and put her hand on his. He immediately intertwined their fingers and some tension faded away just on being in contact with her.
This was all noticed by her father's keen eyes and her mother's teasing ones.
The dinner went well. It was 10:30 and time for Advaith to leave. He greeted her parents and touched their feet with his gloved hands.
“Mai see off krke aati hu.”
Alisha rushed out behind him and he sighed once they were outside.
“What do you think? Did I blow off my chance with you?”
“No you did not. Papa is very upfront about things if he doesn't like them. Agar tum nhi pasand aate toh itni izzat ke saath ghar se nhi jaate. Or atleast mujhe yaha tumhe see off krne nhi aane dete.”
He nodded grimly and she snaked her arms around his torso. He relaxed and hugged her tight.
“I'll see you tomorrow?”
She nodded and pulled back to give him a grin. He smiled and started leaning in only to be stopped by a hand on his stomach.
“My parents are inside. And probably watching us right now. Don't look!”
He deflated and kissed her forehead inside, letting his lips linger there for some time. She smiled and closed her eyes.
“Okay! Go home now and call me once you reach home safe. Okay?”
