I listened to Shruti's suggestion and asked Faizal to not force get-together further. Faizal wasn't convinced yet he didn't argued on the matter. I was usually annoyed by his trait of not voicing his views even when he disagreed, he often allowed it to slight off. At times agreeing on topic lessen trouble than unnecessarily arguing on it.

"Why was change made in plan?" He asked as he had laid on my lap.

We were seating in one of the benches in the 'Rush Lake'. It had turned out to be his favorite spot. He had come to pick me up after the office hours.

"So you would be allowed to have some family moments with them." I opted to ignore the real issue. He didn't need to know that my mom dislike his father and wasn't in a mood to forgive him for the comment he had made.

"Nivi, you're aware right that you can share anything with me." He muttered, the words he uttered everytime he was convinced that I was lying to her.

"I know," I passed him a reassuring smile as I played with his locks. I loved wrapping my fingers around his soft hairs. "Maybe they aren't in a mood to know eachother, we shouldn't force them and allow them with time."

Faizal nodded opting to shut the topic, "how was your office?" He changed the topic and I was thankful to him about it.

•••

"We aren't watching a horror movie," I objected my view on the topic.

"Don't worry Nivi, it's not that scary." Zain was attempting to encourage me. "I had read the reviews, people were commenting it's more like horror-comedy."

"If it isn't that great why even we are watching one?" Farya expressed her displeasure. "It's already late, Azia is tired. I think we should go back to hotel."

"Farya, Nivi had just arrived." Ahmed interrupted her, "what's the deal if we are up than our regular hours? We are on holidays, we get to enjoy it." Ahmed sent an hi-fi towards exhausted Azia. She attempted to smile at her excited father but tiredness was visible in her orbs.

"Jiju, di is correct. Azia needs rest," I glanced at that adorable kid. "We can watch movie any other day?" I suggested staring at others with hopeful gaze.

"We are here for just another day," Faizal recollected. "If you have forgotten," his orbs were glaring at me.

He was mad at me. I had promised to spent the entire day with him but boss denied for the leave and I was forced to work. Our plans were cancelled!

"We can watch a comedy movie instead of horror?" Zoya suggested, "Azia will enjoy it as well."

"I am not wasting my night watching an animated film." Zain groaned at the thought of it.

"Stop acting like a kid," Zoya glared at him.

"Why don't we have a dinner in the near by resturant and than go and watch the fountain show in the 'Amuse Park," I stared at them with hopeful gaze.

"What's does fountain show mean?" Zain was the curious one to question about the plan.

"It's breathtaking, you will enjoy it." I assured him so the rest agreed to carry on with the plans.

As planned we walked into the nearest resturant. It wasn't much expensive but a cozy, friendly and comfortable one. Something which middle-class could afford.

The restaurant was packed as it was weekend, Saturday night. People have walked out of their house and were enjoying their night. It was mostly filled with family. We grabbed a vacant table as we managed to convince the waiter to merge the two table together.

"What will you please to have?" He inquired as he bowed at us in respect.

"We will try South Indian thali," Zoya suggested jumping in excitement.

"I think that's not a good idea," I spare a glance at Faizal who was adamant on ignoring my existence. "You might not like it," I was pleading her with my orbs.

I had seen Faizal reaction after eating it. I was certain that his rest of family won't admire it as well.

"But I want to try," Zoya was adamant not to listen.

"I agree with, Zoya." Farya jointed her. "I want to taste it for once. I had heard a lot of compliments about your mom's cooking skills. Faizal was fortunate that he got the opportunity to taste it."

"Di," Faizal groaned at her statement as his orbs glanced in my direction. I could feel hint of concern in his orbs, no matter the amount of anger he processed towards me yet he couldn't help himself from caring about me. His small actions, gestures were indicator of his love towards me.

He was scared that her words might hurt me and it did! I felt guilty that I couldn't even invite them for dinner at my house. I wasn't sure how mom would react to the idea. I hadn't mentioned about Faizal after the conversation I had with Shruti. I had taken her suggestion seriously and I stopped muttering about him to them.

Shruti and Jiju had gone back to Andhra next day of the incident. My parents were aware of the Meet-ups. I used to stay out even after my office hours, I used to inform them that I was with Faizal and his family but they never asked me to invite them home.

"It just that situation at home are little..." I was trying to form a proper excuse as I lowered my head in embarrassment. I felt a squeeze on my knuckles as I raised my head to find Farya offering a reassuring smile.

"This had nothing to do with you," she blinked at me in assurance. "I was trying to irritate Faizal with the teasing," I return her smile yet I couldn't brush the thought away. I attempted to laugh at Zain's joke and be present at the moment with them yet my mood had turned soar.

We soon walked towards the park, a huge crowd was awaiting for us. "Is it that good?" Ahmed sounded curious on glancing at the crowd surrounding us. "It's seem as if entire Kochi is present here at the moment."

I wanted to argue with him that it was just tourist. If entire Kochi decided to join the show the place won't be able to accommodate them yet I chose to ignore his comment as my orbs moved towards the person who was ignoring my existence. I slowly moved towards his direction, he had Azia in his arms.

"For how long are you going to ignore me?" There was no response, I pointed at his elbow to grab his attention yet his orbs were locked on the fountain before him.

"Mami," Azia passed a tooty smile, metling my heart. At least someone was offering me with her entire attention.

"Hi, Azia..." I caressed her cheek. "You're going to enjoy the show," I assured her and soon the music started playing.

"What's exactly is going to happen?" Zain walked towards me with curiosity. "Why have they started the music? Is someone going to jump from the fountain and dance?"

I giggled at his assumption, "nope.. just wait and watch."

He rolled his orbs at my comment, "fine..." He groaned in disappointment. "I am going forward to get a clear view, are you coming?" He inquired but before I could respond, Faizal answered for me.

"She isn't going anywhere," his free hand grabbed my wrist as if making his decision clear to his cousin.

"She still hadn't turn into your wife so you still don't have any legal rights to decide for her." Zain smirked at his fuming cousin, "I can still have a chance with her." He winked at him in the end.

"Don't you already have a woman to impress?" Faizal grip on my wrist tighten. "Don't test my patience," he warned. "I am having hard time holding back my frustration."

"Fine," Zain raised his hand in surrender. "But at least be vocal enough so she can understand your fury." Zain shook his head as he grabbed Azia from his arms. "I will take her until you both sort the matters." With those words, he walked away.

Silence prevailed around us yet loud music was busting in background. Along with music, water started flowing from the fountain. The waves used to swing along with the music, the colouring lights arranged around the fountain was giving it more magnificent view. Slowly the dancers started emerging from every corner, one almost banged into me.

I stumbled on my feet as I didn't see it coming but Faizal wrapped his arms around me, stopping me from landing on the floor.

"Sorry," he turned to apologise and rushed towards his gang.

Faizal muttered something under his breath, definitely displeased with the dancers behaviour. "Stop cursing him," I glared at Faizal.

"He just pushed you," he groaned back at me.

"He was just rushing to get on his spot on time," I reasoned out.

"Stop defending everyone on the planet," he glared at me in disbelief. "Stop seeing everyone as innocent as you. People are cruel out there and if you want to survive in this world you have to accept it." He hissed in fury, what was troubling him so much? "Or they would destroy you," his anger was radiating off from his body.

"What's wrong?" I mumbled cupping his face in concern.

"Nothing is wrong, you just need to stop acting kind to every individual around you. Some doesn't deserve your kindness," he attempted to jerk my hand away but I grabbed on to my hold.

"Hmm... I don't care about others but at this moment, I need you to stop being so mad at me. I can't afford your anger. What have I done to receive so much anger from you?"

"They were seriously eye raping you," he groaned in displeasure. "You aren't walking in that office again," he was shivering in fury. As if he was allowing those suppress frustration to budge out of him.

"I can't simply leave the job," I attempted to reason out. I had felt uncomfortable under their gaze from past few days. I had attempted a lot to shove off those feelings. I attempted a lot to convince my heart that I was imagining it, they can't be pervert. They were officers, they won't have such mentality.

"If you don't want me to mention this incident to your dad, you won't walk into that building again."

"Faiz..." I grabbed his wrist, pleading him to understand. "Try to understand, I can't resign from the job without providing a future notice. I have signed a contract with the company when I jointed it. I can't break those rules."

"Isn't your company duty to provide you with better working environment? A environment where you feel safe and not watched upon." He paused for a moment, holding back his frustrated words. "How long is this going on? Is this the reason your boss is against family members visiting your office? Is that the reason he used to hate my presence around that building? What I could accept from the guy who was crushing on his employee?"

"Faiz ..." I eyed him to stop as his loud voice was grabbing attention of the crowd.

"I can't see them eye-fucking you, Nivi. What's so difficult to understand?" He yelled at me. "I fucking wanted to kick them, I was feeling the inner need to just fucking destroy their existence."

"Shh..." I grabbed his cheek in my palms as I forced him to glance into my orbs. I had never seen him so angry. I had never seen him cursing out so loudly. I had never seen him shivering in anger before but rather than running away or getting frightened I was holding him up. "Calm down," I requested him.

"That moron..."

"It's fine," I paused. "Look at me, take a huge breath in and breath out...." He closed his orbs as he listened to my command. "Breath in and....Breath out," I waited for a moment before inquiring, "how are you feeling now?"

"Good," he nodded, I passed a smile at him as he opened his orbs. "Thank you," he mumbled after pulling me into a hug.