Pleasing his parents...

#2

I carry the empty plates and glasses back to the kitchen and help aunty sort things out. Abhi stands in the doorway, his eyes glued to his phone's screen.

"Thank you darling, you really didn't have to."

"I want to, aunty." I say softly.

Abhi's dad calls him and he follows his voice back to the living room.

His mom suddenly grabs me by the arm. "Listen to me, girl! You better stay away from him. I don't like you. You're not good enough." She snaps.

I freeze, immobile with shock. What is happening?? Is this some kind of joke?

"W..W..W-what?" I stammer.

"Just. Leave. Him. Alone." She stresses each word, her grip around my arm tightening.

"Pooja. Let's go." Abhi comes in, as his mom let's go.

"Already? But you only just came." His mother says in a voice as sweet as honey.

I stare at him, then his mom, then back at him. This isn't real, but the marks on my arm are.

"It's getting late Ma. I have a meeting." He turns to me, "Shall we?"

"Y-yes."

"Bye Beti!! Come again soon! It was wonderful meeting you." His mom calls as we get in the car.

I don't even wave good bye. I rub my arms as we start back home.

"You didn't even say bye." He shakes his head. "And my mother was being so sweet. She was atleast making an effort."

"Abhi!!! Your mom doesn't like me at all. In fact she hates me. She warned me to leave you. Look!!" I push my arm to his face to show him the marks, but they aren't there any anymore.

"What are you doing??" He pushes my arm away. "I'm driving! And what do you want me to look at? Your arm?"

"No..She..She squeezed my arm tightly and threatened me."

"Pooja! Don't you dare accuse my mother of something like that. She doesn't have a single bone made of negativity."

Not a single one...but the whole skeleton.

"Abhi...trust me. She doesn't like me." I start to cry.

"Don't act silly. She likes you. She was even enthusiastic about the wedding. You were just too nervous to see it."

"I'm not kidding. I haven't become deaf or blind. She threatened me, Abhi!!"

"Shut up! How dare you." He stops in the parking lot and slams the door.

"Shut up?? I'm not lying. I know it may be hard for you to believe something against your mother, but you do trust me, don't you?" I ask as I feel blood rushing into my face.

"I don't know. Let's just go sleep on it." He says in a muffled tone.

My hands start to shake with anger and frustation. Anger toward his mom who warned me and frustation that he doesn't believe me.

Maybe we should sleep on it. At this point my emotions are all mixed up and bundled. I can't decipher my exact mood, but I know I don't like it.

~~~*~~~

A/N:

Click the star please! Just kidding, wouldn't want to force you like Abhi's mom! :P

Have a great day... :)

~ Alexis