MY AVERAGE LIFE

Part 65

Shivani Pov:

The whole day, I couldn't stop smiling. The conversation with my parents had been tense, but when they finally agreed to meet Sharath on Sunday, I felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders. I'd been worrying about this moment for so long, and now that it was happening, I couldn't wait to tell Sharath.

I passed the time nervously, eager for him to come home so I could share the news. I kept glancing at the clock, counting down the minutes until he'd be back. As I wandered around the apartment, tidying up here and there, my eyes finally fell on something I had missed earlier—his wallet, sitting on the kitchen counter. How did I not notice it before?

I quickly pulled out my phone and texted him:"You forgot your wallet. It's sitting right here."

After a few moments, his reply came back:"Ohh, I didn't even notice!"

I chuckled to myself. Typical Sharath. With that, I decided to distract myself by watching some movies, though I couldn't fully concentrate. My mind kept wandering back to how I would tell him, imagining the expression on his face. Time seemed to crawl by, but finally, the sound of the door opening filled the apartment. My heart leapt with excitement, and I sprang to my feet.

As soon as Sharath stepped inside, I couldn't hold back. I rushed toward him and threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"I missed you so much! I've been waiting for you all day," I said, burying my face in his chest.He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me even closer. "I missed you too," he murmured against my hair, his warmth and familiar scent instantly calming me.

After a few moments, I pulled back, ready to tell him the big news, but before I could say a word, he tugged me right back into his embrace, squeezing me tighter.

"Sharath!" I said with a playful pout, trying to wriggle free. "I need to tell you something important!"

He still didn't let go, nuzzling my neck, and I could feel his smile. "Are you not going to ask what it is?" I teased, half-laughing.

He finally leaned back, loosening his hold just a little, and looked at me with mock seriousness. "Don't pout, you look too cute. Okay, tell me—what is this important thing you've been trying to say?"

I grinned widely, excitement bubbling up inside me. "My parents agreed to meet you! This Sunday! For lunch!"

Sharath's expression shifted slightly, his smile a bit more subdued than I had expected. He said, "Oh, really?"

My heart skipped a beat. Was he not happy about it? Did he not want to meet them yet? Worry crept into my mind. I stepped closer, placing my hand on his arm gently. "Sharath, are you okay? If you're not ready to meet them, it's totally fine. We can reschedule for later—really."

He gave me a soft smile, his hand brushing my cheek. "How can I not be ready to meet them? I'm dying to marry you." But even as he said it, I could tell something was still bothering him. His eyes held a quiet worry, one I had learned to recognize.

I wasn't about to let it go. Grabbing his hand, I pulled him to the sofa. "Come on, sit," I ordered, pushing him down gently. I quickly fetched a glass of water and handed it to him. He drank it while I sat down beside him, watching him closely.

Placing the glass on the table, I turned toward him. "Now tell me what's troubling you, and don't you dare say it's nothing or blame it on work," I warned, narrowing my eyes. "I know you too well, Sharath."

He chuckled at my serious expression. "Did you just threaten me? Looking all cute and trying to be scary at the same time?"

I huffed, crossing my arms. "It's supposed to be scary! You should be scared."He laughed harder this time, making me roll my eyes at him. "Stop laughing! You're just avoiding the topic."

Still smiling, he sighed, leaning back on the sofa. "Okay, okay. You caught me."I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

He finally admitted, "I'm just worried about whether your parents will like me or not. What if... I don't make a good first impression. What can I do to make sure they'll like me?"

My heart softened at his vulnerability. I reached out and took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Sharath, listen to me. You just need to be yourself. My parents will like you."

But I could still see the doubt lingering in his eyes. He looked down at our joined hands. "But you know, first impressions are important," he said softly, his voice tinged with concern.

I smiled at him, shaking my head gently. "Sharath,  I didn't exactly have the best first impression of you when we first met. And look at where we are now."

"And don't expect them to like you right away. It might take some time. They've raised me for over twenty years, so of course they're going to have their worries. It's only natural. But I know that once they get to know you, really know you, they'll see what I see."

I shifted closer, cupping his face in my hands. "Just be yourself, Sharath. That's all I need. You're perfect the way you are. And if they don't see it right away, we'll keep meeting them until they do. Because I know in my heart, they will." I would prefer to die rather than make him go through the same to make my parents accept him because I know how hard he tried to please his parents and pretend to be someone in his childhood.

He looked into my eyes, and slowly, the worry seemed to melt away. He sighed, a little more relaxed now, and leaned his forehead against mine. "You always know the right thing to say."I smiled softly, kissing his forehead. "That's because I know you better than anyone. Trust me, it's going to be okay."

He let out a small laugh, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. "You know, I was the hardest to impress in my family, and you managed to win me over. So I guess your parents will be a piece of cake."

I grinned. "Exactly."

With that, I leaned back against him, feeling his arms wrap around me once more. We stayed there, curled up on the sofa, with the weight of the day slipping away. And as I rested against his chest, I knew that no matter what came our way, we'd face it together.