Always Have. Always Will

The First Car Ride

Mahika had tried every dress from her wardrobe, but she found nothing good enough for her. She was trying a black midi dress with a square neck reaching her knees. "I think I have gained weight around my waist," she said while looking into the full-length mirror in her room.

"I think you look perfect" Mahika turned startled by the voice and saw her Nani standing at the entrance of her room and looking around the mess she had created, her wardrobe was open and almost empty and there were dresses spread all around her bed, and some even at the floor.

"Nani! When did you return from the café?" Mahika asked her to hide the nervousness in her voice.

"When you were busy criticizing yourself despite looking so beautiful." Her Nani came towards her and gave a light slap on her shoulder. Mahika took an exhale and sat on the bed defeated. "What should I do Nani? I can't find anything to wear tonight." She told in a flow.

"Tonight? Are you going somewhere?"

Mahika closed her eyes and bit her tongue to disclose her plan to Nani without thinking. "It's a friend, he invited me for dinner tonight." She deliberately hid some of the details as she knew if she told Nani the entire truth, she would never let her go.

"HE? Who is he whom I don't know anything about?" Nani looked at her with furrowed brows.

'How stupid Mahika you could have said SHE, but you have to spill the beans every single time.' Mahika thought and then after a bit of hesitation, she spoke.

"Just a college friend Nani, he happened to have here and invited me as well. And did I forget to tell you? There will be other college friends as well." Mahika replied while picking up her dresses from the floor to avoid eye contact, this was the first time she was lying to her Nani and even she didn't understand why. "Hmm ok..." Nani looked at her and then picked up a black dress from her bed "I think you should wear this then; it will look good for your dinner outing then." Mahika looked at the dress, which was a black sleeveless A-line dress with a square neck that would end just above her knees. She immediately grabbed the dress from her hand and hugged her getting excited "Thank you! You are great Nani." She exclaimed.

"Yes, I know, and don't forget to wear the warm slacks underneath and blazer, or else you will come home freezing," Nani said while smiling at her adoration and stroking her hair.

____________

"OMG! Someone is looking hot today," Diksha exclaimed as soon as she saw Mahika entering the café wearing the same black dress that her Nani had chosen for her with warm slacks, long boots, and a mustard color long blazer. She kept her shoulder-length hair open.

Mahika's POV

"Tell me honestly, have I overdone it?" I asked Diksha nervously.

"Not at all...I think you have never looked better than how you look today" She laughed alone at her joke while I glared at her until she finally stopped grinning.

"Am I missing something?" We turned to find Ravi carrying his helmet and ready to leave as it was time to close the café.

"Oh yes! You know Mahika is finally going on a date" Diksha exclaimed looking at him in excitement.

"What? With whom?" Ravi looked at me and I started looking everywhere else but at those monkeys standing in front of me. One drawback of having childhood friends is that you find it harder to keep things from them because they sometimes know you better than you.

"The Atharva Sinha"

"The who?" Ravi's reaction boosted my confidence and I snapped at Diksha who made fun of my ignorance the last time.