Just A Friend?

Chapter One

Sweety was cocooned in the warmth of her blanket. She was wrapped in the sweet embrace of sleep when she felt a gentle but persistent shake at her shoulder.

Groaning softly, she slightly cracked open an eye only to see the stern figure of her mother standing over her with an all-too-familiar expression.

One hand perched on her hip, the other ready to deliver a wake-up call she couldn't ignore.

"Just a few more minutes, please Ramya!" Sweety mumbled, her voice sounds thick with sleep as she tried to bury herself deeper into her pillow.

Ramya however was not one to be swayed by sleepy pleas. "Oh really? Well then, I suppose I'll just eat the chicken biryani I made just for you..."

The effect was instantaneous.

At the mention of her favorite dish, Sweety's eyes shot open wide with the gleam of undeniable hope.

"Biryani?!" she exclaimed and instantly bolting upright as though propelled by the very thought of it.

Ramya couldn't help but smirk as her little ruse worked like a charm.

"Yes, always about food with you. Now, get up and get ready! You have college today, or did you forget?" she said with a firm tone as she ushered her daughter toward the bathroom.

Sweety groaned as she dragged her feet, still half-asleep.

"I hate you, Ramya! So cunning... Don't you have any sense of humanitarianism?" she murmured as her words slurred with lingering drowsiness.

"Stop your blabbering and go freshen up!" Ramya ordered in a mock-serious tone, pointing to the bathroom door.

Sweety shuffled her way to the bathroom while muttering under her breath but complying nonetheless.

Moments later, she emerged, somewhat more awake and far less grumpy. The mouthwatering aroma of something sweet wafted through the air which draws her toward the kitchen like a magnet.

There sat a plate of perfectly golden syrup-soaked jalebis, glistening under the morning light on the kitchen table.

Without a second thought, Sweety reached out and popped one into her mouth, sighing contentedly as the sugary sweetness melted on her tongue.

But her bliss was short-lived.

"Sweety!" Ramya's tone was sharp with exasperation. "Those are for the prayer! How could you eat them before I offered them to the gods?"

Sweety froze in mid-bite. She look up at her mother with wide and guilty eyes for a second.

But the remorse vanished in instant as she opted for the art of defense. "Ma! You know I can't resist jalebis. Then why would you leave them out in plain sight like this? It's practically an invitation!"

Ramya narrowed her eyes, unimpressed by the excuse. "And you know very well today is Tuesday! I always prepare sweets for the prayer. Have you have no self-control?"

Sweety was never one to back down so she quickly retorted, "Ma, what's the big deal? Don't worry, God won't punish me for having a little taste of His sweet offering. Besides, if you think about it, I'm practically the god of sweets! Isn't that why you named me Sweety? So, really, it's just one god sharing with another. No harm done, right?" She grinned at her mother hoping her absurd logic would earn her a reprieve.

Ramya stared at her daughter with her lips pursed, fighting the urge to smile. Sweety's ridiculous explanation was so endearingly sincere that it was hard to stay mad.

Finally, she let out a huff, shaking her head. "You and your nonsense. Go and help with the rest of the preparations before you come up with more divine excuses."