"I'm really sorry about this, sir," Dev said.
"It's fine. I will find a better man for my daughter. Right, Tanvi?" Mr. Desai asked.
"Yes... Father," Tanvi, who was still there, replied, looking at Mr. Desai, her father.
Dev's brain went into overdrive. Tanvi? Mr. Desai's daughter? The proposal he just rejected? Was Tanvi's? The woman he loves?
In a split second, realization hit him like a truck.
"Tanvi?!" Dev exclaimed, his eyes widening. "You mean the proposal I just rejected was for...Tanvi?"
Tanvi nodded, looking embarrassed and anxious.
Dev's mouth fell open. He turned to his parents, his eyes wide with horror. "Mom, Dad, you never told me it was Tanvi!"
His mother raised an eyebrow. "Would it have made a difference?"
Dev threw his hands in the air, exasperated. "Of course, it would have made a difference! I wouldn't have rejected it if I knew it was Tanvi!"
Mr. Desai chuckled softly. "Well, this is a first. Rejected without even knowing the girl is the one you love."
Dev looked at Tanvi, who was still holding the dessert tray, her face a mix of shock and amusement. "Tanvi, I had no idea. I..."
Tanvi finally found her voice. "Dev, it's okay."
Dev's mother cleared her throat. "Well, now that you know, perhaps you can reconsider?"
Dev looked at Tanvi, his eyes pleading. "Tanvi, will you... give me a chance? Properly, this time?"
Tanvi's lips curved into a small smile. "Maybe... if you serve us that dessert first."
Everyone laughed, breaking the tension. Dev quickly took the dessert tray from Tanvi and served everyone, his heart feeling at ease like it hadn't in a long time.
After dinner, it was almost closing time. Dev and Tanvi changed into their own clothes and came out with their families.
"Well, Mr. and Mrs. Mehta, we should not waste any more time. Let's soon discuss the process for the marriage if you don't have any problem," Mr. Desai, Tanvi's father, said to Dev's family.
"Oh, please, I would be so glad to have the marriage right now, Mr. Desai," Dev's mother said.
They all burst out laughing as they saw Dev blush.
"Well, glad to hear it. We'll meet you all soon," Mr. Desai said. As they were about to go, Tanvi stopped her parents, saying, "Dad, if you don't mind, can I come with Dev?"
Her father smiled and said sure. Dev's heartbeat rose when he heard this. Dev's parents giggled at the scene.
Tanvi's parents drove away, waving goodbye. Soon, Dev's parents also got into their car, but before leaving, Dev's mother said, "Dev, we will arrange the marriage soon, okay? Wait till then, don't rush."
She then slowly whispered in his ear, "If you are planning to do anything, then use protection."
That made him turn red as he yelled, "Mom!!!" making Tanvi confused.
"Tanvi, take care of him. Bye!" his mother said as they drove away.
Dev felt the awkwardness creeping in. "Come on, man, you can't be shy now! Where's that guy who would flirt with her?!" he muttered to himself.
Tanvi snapped her fingers to bring him out of his daze. "So...," she started.
"Tanvi, I... I can't believe this. I almost ruined everything," he said.
