Silver Lining | Grooms #3

XX. Dangerous Revenge

Esha smiled at Nikhil's parents who sat across from her at an Italian restaurant for dinner that night. She was dressed in a red dress with stilettos. Nikhil sat next to her, dressed in one of his full sleeve button-ups. She looked down at the menu she was reading.

Out of nowhere, she found Nikhil's hand sneaking its way to her thigh. She did nothing at first, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of rattling her in front of his parents. A few seconds later, she looked up at them. "So, Mrs. Khanna, Nikhil told me you guys lived here before. Why'd you move to...?"

"Roosevelt Island." Rasika informed, and then asked, "And please, dear, I'd love it if you called me mom, but, since Nikhil asked us not to make you feel pressurized, call me by my name."

Nikhil slid his hand further up her thigh. She shook her head, "Hmm, no. You're older. I wouldn't feel right. How about in between? Aunty?"

Rasika smiled back, "Works for now."

Kirtan asked, "So, Esha, how do you like it here so far? Nikhil said you two are working together on a project?"

"Uh, yeah. We are. Does he tell you guys everything?" She questioned, chuckling and turning her head towards him.

If someone didn't know her better, they would think she was accusing him for sharing everything with his parents, and calling him a mama's boy. When in fact, she admired that despite being an adult now, he shared things with his parents. They had that open relationship she never could have with her own parents. Her parents never really did listen to her, or even understood her.

"Until today, I used to think they could keep secrets. So yeah, I told them everything." He answered, before looking at his parents, "Now, I might have to reconsider that."

"Hey, just because she's in your life now does not mean you stop being close to your parents." Rasika scolded him, "Besides, she's family. It's not like we're giving away your secrets to outsiders." Rasika looked at Esha, and added, "Right, dear?"

Esha nodded, winking at her, "Always up to getting in on some secrets."

Esha had almost forgotten of his hand on her thigh. Almost. He had been noticing since he thought of teasing her that she wasn't too bothered. So, he decided to up the stakes. She didn't know that. She figured he was giving up, buying her act, when his hand went down to her knee, where the hem of her dress was. Her breath hitched when she realized he wasn't giving up. He had pulled her dress up a bit, sliding his hand to her bare skin instead of resting it over the fabric of her dress.

The color from her face must have disappeared, for she was taken aback at his audacity. Among the two of them, she was known to tease him. Not the other way around.

She gulped as his dad asked, "Is everything okay, Esha? You look pale."

She forced a smile, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a little cold."

Rasika nodded, "Ah, yes. Yesterday's blizzard is surely not helping the weather."

Their conversation was put on hold as the waiter came by to take their orders. "Hello, my name is Tyler and I'll be your server today. What can I get started for you?"

Kirtan was the first to speak, "Nick, up for a beer challenge?"

Nikhil looked at his mother, and then asked his dad, "You sure, dad? You know mom doesn't like it when you're drunk."

Kirtan scoffed, "Psh, please. I'm not scared of my wife."

"Oh really?" Rasika raised her eyebrow and challenged him. Esha and Nikhil both tried to hide their laughter. Nikhil knew for a fact that his father was, and Esha was finding that out.