Deep In Desires

Chapter 8: Atharv

I saw my mother's eyes sparkling with excitement as she leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone.
"So, tell me, when did you two lovebirds meet?"

Rup and I exchanged a nervous glance, and I could sense her hesitation.  Rup said
“ In this college.” And at the same time I said “At a seminar.”

Both of us looked at each other once again with bewilderness.

My mother's eyes narrowed, her gaze darting between us. "A seminar? But Rup said you met in college?"

Rup's eyes widened, and she quickly tried to cover.
"Oh, yeah, I mean, Atharv gave a seminar here at the college, and that's where we met."

Mom looked at me and said “ Why did you never tell me about her, Atharv.”

I dismissively said “It was nothing, Ma. Just a chance encounter.”

My mother's eyes narrowed with skepticism. "How did you two fall in love, if it was nothing?"

That's when I intervened, trying to steer the conversation away from dangerous waters.
"Ma, let's leave the interrogation for later, hmm? I'm sure Rup must be tired."

My mother pouted, but I could see the hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"Fine, fine. But this isn't over, you two. I want all the details later."

After what felt like an eternity of my mother's interrogation, during which she expertly tried extracted every detail about our “Freshly Made Up Love Story”  from Rup and me, and showered Rup with enough praise to make her blush a deep shade of crimson ("You're so beautiful, Rup! Have I mentioned how beautiful you are?”).

As I gazed at Rup’s blushing face, my mother's voice broke the spell.
"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone now," she said with a knowing smile. I was just about to take a sigh of relief, my mother spoke up again.

"Rup, dear, I'd love to have you over for dinner tonight at our place."
Rup's eyes darted to me, panic flashing across her face. I tried to intervene, "Ma, Rup's busy, she has an assignment due tomorrow..."

But my mother waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, it's okay, dear, she can make a little time. I really want to have her over for dinner."

Rup looked at me again, and both of us knew we were in trouble. I couldn’t refuse my mother also as it would be suspicious. Without thinking, I nodded.

Rup hesitantly nodded and said “Sure Mrs. Raghavan, I would love to join you for dinner tonight.” Rup was now smiling sweetly looking at my mother.
As soon as my mother left, Rup rushed to the door and checked if she was out of earshot. Then, she turned to me, her face scrunched up in frustration, and shouted, "What the hell was that?!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at her outburst. "I guess my mother wants to play matchmaker," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Rup's eyes narrowed. "Matchmaker? Are you kidding me? I don't even like you!"

I smirked, unfazed. "Feeling’s mutual, but you know, what's done is done. I lied in the heat of the moment, and now you have to help me."

Rup crossed her arms, annoyance evident in her face. "Why would I help you? Why did you even drag me into this mess? Don't you have an actual girlfriend for your family to meet?"

I shrugged, nonchalant. "I don't have time for such trivial matters. I don't make 'Girlfriends'."

Rup raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing on her lips. "Wait, really? You, the Great Atharv Raghavan, never had a girlfriend?"

I watched her with amusement, enjoying her surprise.
"What? Am I supposed to have a Girlfriend?"

Rup chuckled, her laugh is a beautiful sound. Oh god, what's wrong with me? It's just a laugh. What's beautiful about it? The way her nose scrunches when she laughs is cute. Not again. Get it together, Atharv. Rup's voice came interrupting my inner conflict.
"Well, no, I just thought that you're such a hotshot CEO, you must have a girlfriend, but I guess I was wrong."

I grinned, my eyes locking onto hers.
"Did you just call me ‘Hot’?”

I watched Rup’s face as she stuttered, colour rising to her cheeks.
“Wha- What? No! I didn’t say that. I said Hotshot, It doenst necessarily means Hot. Shut up!”

I chuckled liking how riled up she is, just by a little teasing. God, shes cute.
“What's it supposed to mean then?”

She fumbled
“N-nothing, forget I said anything.”

Wanting to tease her further, I said
“Well, I guess, I do have a girlfriend now.”

My eyes locked on her face scanning for a reaction.

Rup's eyes widened, realization dawning on her face. "But just now you said you don't—"

She trailed off, noticing my intense gaze on her face as I smirked.
"Wait, are you talking about me? Don't even think about it! I'm not doing this!"

I kept looking at her, my expression turning to a Serious one now.
"Look, Rup, this is really important for me. This is the only way for me to avoid the constant marriage bullshit. I don't want to look at different girls' pictures every day. Dadi has chewed off my ears about marriage and I really want all this to stop."

Rup crossed her arms, her face showing amusement. It was almost as if she was enjoying my misery. "That sounds like a ‘You’ problem. I don't see how I'm supposed to be bothered by this."

I visibly groaned, frustration etched on my face.
"How about this? I'll do anything you say. You can ask for anything you want. Just help me this once?"

Rup's eyebrows shot up, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Anything, you say?"

I nodded, my eyes locked onto hers. "Yep, anything."

A smirk made its way to Rup's face.