MY AVERAGE LIFE

Part 67

Shivani Pov:

As the door clicked shut behind Suresh, I felt the tension in the room shift slightly. The lunch had been more intense than I expected, but I knew my father was just being his usual protective self. He wasn't making things easy for Sharath, and Suresh showing up unannounced hadn't helped either. It wasn't the right time for him to be here—it had made things even more awkward.

I glanced at Sharath, sitting beside me. Despite the grilling he'd just endured, he remained calm, his posture steady and composed. But I could see the weight of the evening in his eyes. I gently placed my hand on his arm, offering a small smile.

"Sharath," I said quietly, my voice soft, "I'm sorry about all this. I know my dad can be a bit... tough. But don't worry, everything's going to be fine."

He turned to look at me, his expression softening as his eyes met mine. "I'm not worried, Shivani. I know how much your family means to you. Your dad just wants to make sure I'm good enough for you, and I respect that."

I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest. His understanding made me feel so much better. "You don't have to feel so much pressure, though. You've already made a great impression. My mom likes you, and my dad—he's cautious, but he's not far behind. You just have to give him time. He'll come around, I promise."

Sharath looked at me with such affection that it made my heart flutter. Without saying a word, he leaned in and kissed my forehead gently. It was such a simple gesture, but it made me feel safe—like everything really would be okay.

But as I moved back, I noticed something that made my stomach flip. My parents were both looking at us. My mom had a small, knowing smile on her face, and my dad was watching us with an unreadable expression. I felt my cheeks heat up instantly, and I quickly lowered my gaze, blushing deeply.

Sharath shifted slightly, his hand finding mine under the table. He gave it a gentle squeeze, his calmness reassuring me. I glanced up to see him smiling softly at me, and that made me relax a little.

My mom cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Well," she said warmly, "I think we've had quite a time, haven't we? stay here for dinner also" Her eyes twinkled with understanding, and I could tell she was doing her best to ease the tension too.

 "Sharath, you handled everything very well. It's not easy to face a family like ours, but you've done wonderfully."

 Sharath smiled warmly at my mom's words, his grip on my hand firm yet reassuring. "Thank you, ma'am," he said, his voice steady. "It means a lot to hear that."I could see the relief wash over him, even if he was trying to keep it hidden. The day had been emotionally exhausting for him, and my mom's words seemed to offer him a bit of comfort.

 I knew he had felt the pressure, but somehow, he'd managed to handle everything with grace. My dad's unrelenting questions, Suresh's surprise appearance—it was a lot. But Sharath stayed calm through it all.My mom, still smiling, turned to my dad. "What do you think, dear? Shouldn't they stay for dinner?"There was a pause. My dad glanced at me and then back at Sharath. I held my breath, hoping he wouldn't say something to make things more awkward.

 Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained unreadable."Sure, they can stay," he said, his voice still carrying that stern tone. "But Sharath, I hope you're not in a rush. I'd like to talk a bit more."I tensed slightly, knowing this wasn't just a casual invitation. My dad still had things he wanted to discuss. 

I could feel Sharath's hand tighten around mine, but he remained composed."Of course, sir," Sharath replied. "I'm more than happy to stay and talk."I smiled at him, hoping to silently convey that everything was going to be okay. My dad wasn't an easy man to win over, but I could tell that he wasn't outright rejecting Sharath either. That was a good sign. He just needed more time, like I had told Sharath earlier.

 As my mom got up to head into the kitchen, probably to start preparing dinner, I turned to Sharath, my voice barely above a whisper. "You really don't have to worry. I know my dad's tough, but I promise you, he's warming up to you."Sharath gave me a small smile, though I could see the determination in his eyes.

 "I know, Shivani. I'm ready for whatever he has to say. I'll make sure he understands how serious I am about us."His words made my heart swell with emotion, and without thinking, I leaned in, resting my head briefly against his shoulder. "I'm really lucky to have you," I murmured."You're the lucky one?" he teased, his voice soft. "I'm the one who's grateful."We shared a quiet moment, and I felt that same sense of peace and security whenever I was with him.

 The world felt right, even if my dad was still being difficult.I suddenly realized how close we were and quickly pulled back, only to catch my dad's gaze once more. He was watching us again, his expression unreadable. I blushed furiously, lowering my eyes, and straightened in my seat, trying to compose myself.Sharath must have noticed, too, because he shifted beside me, sitting up a little straighter, his hand still lightly holding mine under the table.

 "Well," my dad began, leaning back in his chair slightly. "Since we're all here, I might as well ask a few more things."I glanced at Sharath, but he simply nodded, prepared for whatever was coming next. My dad was clearly not finished, and I knew this was his way of testing Sharath further. But deep down, I had faith that he would eventually come around. Sharath had already handled the day so well, and I could tell that he wasn't going to back down.

 My mom's voice suddenly called from the kitchen, interrupting the tension. "Shivani, why don't you come and help me make the dinner"I stood up quickly, grateful for the brief escape. "Coming, Mom."As I headed toward the kitchen, I glanced back at Sharath. 

He gave me a reassuring smile, and I knew, despite my dad's challenges, that we would make it through this together.In the kitchen, as I helped my mom arrange the dishes, she smiled at me knowingly. "You've got a good one there, Shivani. He's handling your father's tests very well." I smiled and said  proudly " I know" and told his favorite dishes so she can prepare it, while she gave me a teasing smile.