“This so difficult!” I grumbled as the dish in video seemed very different from what I had prepared. “I hope it will taste the same…” I mumbled much to myself.

“I hope the same,” Shruti muttered as I turned to find her standing on the kitchen entrance, a smile was playing on her lips. “Why are you glaring at me? I wasn’t the one who came up with the idea of preparing the dinner.” She teased me as she walked inside.

“What was the need of mentioning about the dinner?” I was growling at her in anger. Only if she hadn’t mention it, I wouldn’t be forced to waste my holiday in anxiety. “And why is Jiju so adamant to call Faizal for dinner?”

“I asked him!” Shruti mumbled grabbing my entire attention. I was simply wasting my energy on blaming him the real villain of my peace was standing before me. If look could kill, she would be burning in fire due to the glare I was shooting at her.

“Why would you?” I yelled at her as she gestured me to slow down.

“I just wanted to help you up,” she shrugged her shoulder. “Your behavior with Jay was different, you weren’t your usual-self around him. I was forced to inquire about the incident that took place on the day he arrived and he shared it to me.” She paused as if trying to read my reaction on it. I hadn’t expected for him to hide it from others for so long so I wasn’t stunned on knowing that he had revealed to Shruti about it.

“I asked him to give Faizal a chance, an opportunity to prove himself.” Her orbs were fixed on me, “so you won’t feel that he was partial on his decision that he isn’t right for you.”

“Right for me?” I was taken aback with her choice of words. How could she express it out so loudly? Or even give a thought about it! I was of the view that she had more rigid views on things related to caste and stuff. She was more like mom, having firm opinions on such matters yet she voiced the view of providing Faizal with an opportunity to prove himself.

“I don’t want you to hate us,” she completed. Her orbs avoiding eye-contact with me. “I had seen the disappointment in your orbs as you enter the house. You attempt to keep least interaction with us. I have only one sister; I don’t want her to run-off.” She mumbled as she was scared to look into my orbs.

“Do you think, I would ever do that?” I inquired shaking my head in disbelief.

“The love you share for him will either lead you to hate us or force you to run and live a life with him.” Her orbs glanced at me, “only if you’re convinced, he isn’t the Mr. Perfect your mind had shaped him as...”

“I will be glad if you succeed,” I mumbled. “As I attempted various time but failed.” With that as my finale statement I walked out of the kitchen. I took a sigh of relief on getting the reason behind inviting Faizal for the dinner. I wasn’t stressed out if he would impress them or not rather, I was afraid that my family would humiliate him.

I typed him a message if he had arrived or not, I wasn’t planning to leave him alone in the presence of my family for a second. I didn’t trust them! The seed of hate was planted in their heart and they had started glancing at everyone through those lenses. Yet I knew, Faizal had the super power to win hearts. He was brought-up with such manners that it would be difficult to hate him. He was the kindest, caring and a very friendly person. His selfless, kind nature could melt anyone heart.

It was just eight, according to my calculation he won’t be till nine with that thought in mind I was on the verge of getting into the room. As much as I was against the idea of getting ready on holidays yet I wanted to look presentable in front of him. But my plan was short-lived as a message popped on the screen.

“I am here…”

Why was he here? That was my first question! Why so early? I groaned as unwillingly; I pushed my legs towards the entrance. I had promised to myself that I wasn’t going to leave his side. I might not be able to fight with my elders yet I would try to assure him that I don’t share the same mentality.

I rushed towards the living area. I could hear the voice, Dad and Jiju were having some political discussion but I cared less as I rushed towards the door, pushing it open. I scanned the surrounding, trying to get a glimpse of him. Where was he? I frowned as I took a step outside. I got a slight glimpse of him, leaning on our old-car. I took a step towards him while he was offering me a smile.

He looked so handsome in the white shirt, a black pants loosely attached to his waist. His hair was messy as if he had walked his hands through it alot, sleeves rolled up till elbow. He looked the definition of hot as he was leaning on the car, arms folded around his chest while a lazy smile playing on his lips.

He shook his head as his orbs took in my state, a chuckled popping out of his throat. “Were you that desperate…” His orbs raising in a teasing manner as a smirk was playing on his lips as he completed his statement. “To meet me?”

I rolled my orbs as a smile played on my lips, “you’re not that important!”

He stood on his feet as he erased the distance between us, “doesn’t seem like that!” The smirk wasn’t ready to leave from his face. His hand reaching towards my cheek while my heart accelerating at the highest-speed. “Not when I had succeeded in making you step in the kitchen.” He whispered so close to my ears, that I could feel his warm breath on my cold-soft cheek.
“And from the appearance, for nearly half-a-day.” He chuckled as I glanced at my appearance. I was standing before him in my white-pink pajamas, a cute doremon-t-shirt accompanying it. My hairs made into a messy bun with the help of a rubber-band.  I couldn’t glance at my face but the way he had wiped flour off my cheek, I was convinced it wasn’t worth glancing at!

I huffed! Why I had to rush out in such a speed? The teasing smile playing on his lips was further triggering me. “Don’t you dare laugh at me!” I pointed a finger of accusation at him. “And claim that I look awful,” I was trying to act defensive though I was dying in embarrassment from within.

“Who said I was claiming that you look awful?” His finger raised my chin so I was directly staring into the beautiful set of black orbs. “I am having the view that you look, cute.” That sweet-smile on his face made my heartbeat faster, the adoration playing in his orbs convincing me that he wasn’t lying.

“I think so, your parents won’t appreciate us standing outside for long.” He mumbled as he withdrew his hand from my chin, keeping some distance between us.

“Weren’t you supposed to arrive by eight?” I questioned, “you didn’t even provide me with a minute to get ready.” I groaned as I turned to face the house. Was it necessary to get inside? Why can’t we just stroll around, have a dinner in a restaurant and he get back to this hotel? Why I had to introduce him to my family? A family who didn’t even wanted to welcome him? I sighed as I allowed those thoughts to settle in! I had to! I had faced his conservative family now it was his turn to face mine.

“Things are getting worse,” he mumbled. “If I had waited, I might not even able to arrive.” He was muttering much to himself but I heard, I turned to inquire but at the exact moment the door of our house opened and concerned dad walked out.

“What are you doing outside?” He was yelling, his hands pointing at me to get inside. I was confused with dad reaction yet I eyed Faizal to follow me inside. “You shouldn’t be out!” He kept scolding until we got inside and he locked the door, not before scanning our neighborhood. What was wrong with him?

“Faizal,” Jiju acknowledged his presence as he stood from the couch and walk towards us. “You made it?” He sounded surprised, as he passed a smile at him and extended his hand for a shake. “I am Jay Reddy,” he paused for a second, eyeing at me. “Nivi’s brother-in-law.”

“Nice to meet you,” Faizal had a warm smile playing on his lips.

“Isn’t a revolt taking place outside?” Dad inquired; his voice filled with worry.

“Not here! But in market area,” Faizal nodded. “It seems like it will only turn worse,” he confessed shaking his head in disbelief.

“You shouldn’t have visited,” I stared at him in worry. “It wasn’t safe… didn’t they…” I was scanning for any hint of violence.

“I was invited,” he attempted to reason-out.

“The invitation was above your safety,” I glared at him.

“I wasn’t sure if I would ever be provided with the opportunity,” he mumbled, his orbs glancing at Jiju for a second before averting towards me. “Don’t worry… I made it safely,” he blinked at me to assure me.

“I just don’t understand what had gotten into those monsters!” Dad commented moving back towards the television. Raising the volume, so the news could get into our eardrums.

I sighed as I glanced at Faizal, trying to pass a smile at him as the news telecasted was bad-mouthing about his caste. Blaming the entire thing on them!

“If you want, you can go and change…” he blinked at me in assurance, “I will be fine,” he added eyeing as both of them-Dad and Jiju- had gotten back on their original place on the couch. He was crying to calm my anxious-heart.

“No,” I shook my head. I wasn’t going to leave him alone with them. We stood there in silence, hesitating to voice a word. I was nervous! He was in my house in front of my family. Those were the things I had imagined in my dreams. I wasn’t sure what opinions he was having about my family. I could feel frequent stares of by dad and Jiju on us but they opted to ignore us.

“Will you like a tour of the house?” I inquired, staring at him with a hopeful gaze.

“I will rather like to know that you hadn’t burned the food,” he mumbled attempting to erase the tension building between us.
I passed him a glare as I asked him to follow him. Maybe we could start with the kitchen as I had half-finished business in there.

“It took you along,” Shruti commented as she heard our footstep. Her orbs were spaying the ingredient kept on the stove. "You would have proved him correct," she kept blabbering. “Thanks to me… it’s not burn.” She completed as she raised her head to glance at us. Her orbs widening a little as she glanced at my companion.

“Shruti!” I whined as I stamped my foot in defeat. “Why you had to touch it?” I glared at her. “I had promised myself that I was going to do it without any help and you spoiled it.”

“If I wouldn’t have touched it,” she shook her head. “It would have burn!” She was staring at me in disbelief, “rather than thanking me for my kindness, you’re glaring at me.”

“Now, he would claim that I hadn’t won the challenge!” I pointed at the figure standing behind me. “Just because you touched it,” I huffed in annoyance. What about a day I spent in the kitchen? All of it was wasted! He was provided with another opportunity to tease me!

“Logically, you were going to burn it.” He mumbled earning a defeated groan from me.

“See!” I pouted as I was holding back my tears. I had really work hard! I wasn’t good in cooking; I knew the truth yet I was determined to prove him wrong but I failed and I never appreciated being failed.

“Nivi,” Shruti was taken aback on seeing the tears descending from my cheek. I was a sensitive-kid and I had heard a lot due to it. My mom always wanted me to toughen-up and as I grew up, I had learned the skill of hiding my tears. I never adored crying in front of someone until I trusted them to show my vulnerable side. “Are you crying?” She walked towards me in concern as she cupped my cheek. “This isn’t much of a deal.” She was taken aback with my loud-reaction.

To be frank, I as well wasn’t sure why I felt so emotionally-devastated. It was just a stupid-challenge. She wrapped her arms around me while I sobbed in her arms. I felt defeated! And it wasn't related to the challenge I had failed to Faizal. It was the war I was playing with myself. The war between reality and fantasy. And I was defeated by the reality that was before me. I had failed and that realization had broken me into tears.