"Come on, Dev! Please, just this once, come to see the girl. My God! For heaven's sake, you're almost 30," Dev's mother, Anjali, cried, trying to persuade her son.
"Mom, I'm 28, and no, I have work to do. You know I have an interview today," Dev replied as he headed for the door.
"28 or 30, what's the difference?" she muttered, watching him leave.
She sighed and sat down on the sofa, glaring at her husband, who was calmly sipping his tea, enjoying the daily drama.
"Why are you glaring at me?" Vikram asked, with innocence. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he decided to talk.
"Look, Anjali, I understand you want to see our son married, and he will be, one day. Just give him time. You know he won't agree to this right now. Don't worry, the day you see him getting married isn't far off," Vikram said, smirking.
"What do you mean?" Anjali asked, puzzled.
"Have you noticed how eager he is to go to his restaurant in the last two years?" he asked.
"He does it for work," she replied, doubtful.
"Not entirely. I think he's interested in someone there. We should give him time and not push him."
"I just want to see him happy," Anjali murmured.
Dev Mehta, the owner of one of the finest restaurants in Chennai and one of India's best chefs, completed his culinary training abroad and returned to India to open his first restaurant at 21.
It was a huge success, and he has since built a chain of restaurants under the same brand. Now, every food lover knows Dev Mehta.
A bachelor desired by many women, Dev has a gentle yet cold demeanor. He is a hardworking and fit man, always in formals, and known for his culinary skills.
Who wouldn't love a man who can cook, especially someone like Dev Mehta?
Dev was solely focused on his work until Tanvi Desai entered his life.
At 25, Tanvi is disciplined and dedicated, with loving parents who encourage her. She joined Dev's restaurant after completing her culinary classes and, after much effort, secured a chef position.
Tanvi saw Dev as an inspiration in cooking, and she quickly became one of the best cooks. She joined his restaurant two years ago, and everything was going well until a year ago when Dev proposed to her.
She was shocked and couldn't utter a word. While she recognized his good qualities, loving someone wasn't her priority.
"I'm sorry, Chef," she had politely declined his proposal. But Dev didn't give up, believing that she liked him too. Over the past year, he tried hard to gain her attention, which he always received, but he was always rejected.
Tanvi, loved by those around her, is a reserved person who wants her parents to handle marriage proposals. She had feelings for Dev but couldn't bring herself to agree.
Today, Dev was in the kitchen, preparing dishes for VIP customers. While cooking, he noticed how Tanvi enjoyed being in the kitchen, how she smiled when she tasted her food, and how delighted she was when a new menu item turned out great.
He noticed everything about her and knew her likes, dislikes, and favorite things. Despite this, she never agreed to date him.
"Sir, we got an important order. They are VIPs and specifically requested your presence when you serve them," one of the staff informed Dev. He nodded and started preparing the food for the VIPs.
It wasn't unusual for people to ask for his presence to compliment his cooking, and he appreciated it.
After preparing the food, Dev walked out to the table and was shocked to see his parents.
