"What exactly is going in here?" My mother's angry voice cut deep into the silence making me and David terrorized.

I panicked and David strengthened as she turn on the light and gasped looking at the roses and the heart made of candles. None of us said a word.

"Emily?" her voice was shocked. "My God, Emily - how could you..... You have any idea what would happen if your father finds out about this?

Her hand on her heart as she came inside and sat on the bed, shaken by what she witnessed and assumed. Thankfully, there were no roses on bed or I had no idea what image would my mom's mind conceive. She already looked distressed and utterly shocked.

She gave both of us curious glances as if trying to understand reasons then she stared at the floor where the candle heart was still glowing. 

"How long has this been going for?" she asked in shock anger tone.

"Mom...I..."

"I asked how long Emily?"

David came to my rescue. "It isn't as it looks like, Aunt Amy. We have not crossed our limits."

"Limits? I just caught you and my daughter kissing , this whole set up speaks a lot for what plans you two had and you say you both had not crossed limits?"

"Mom, trust me, this is the first time we...."

"Shut up, Emily. Don't even talk about trust when you leave your room in the middle of the night, all dressed up for God-knows-what-occasion and kissing David. Has not I taught you that a girl's kisses belongs to her true love, the one she would choose to marry? Is this the kind of stuff me and your dad raised you up to do? This is all you learnt from us, kissing a guy in his home, where you are a guest, when everyone is asleep?"

"Aunt Amy..." Dvid tried to say but was stopped by my mom.

"No, young man...you listen. You have even the faintest idea what would happen if it was your mother and not me. Do you even understand what image she would form in her mind if she sees Emily like this in your room at this hour of the night.. Oh God!" she touched her face with both her hand and just sat there.

I heard her whimper and I couldn't control anymore, I broke down in tears too. She was right. I was so stupid to not see things this way. I can't blame David when I never raised a question to what he planned tonight. He did all this to make me feel happy and loved but it ended so like this. I could see the look of guilt and regret in his face when he saw my mother cry.

He reached for her hands, removed them from her face. She opposed and tried to push him away but when he tried again, she stopped pushing and gave in to tears. "What have you both done, David? I thought you are such a sensible boy for your age. How could you?"

"I know, it looks like we had some plans but please Aunt Amy, I swear to God, I never had done anything wrong with Emily and I never will"

"You still would say that after you..."

"I lover her, Aunt Amy. I truly love Emily and I am not defending myself but you all were going tomorrow so we wanted to spend sometime together and we just.... We couldn't...." He lowered his eyes as he said "I am Sorry you had to witness it like this, it gave you wrong impression and you cried but please trust us we never... We never did that before and we had no plans to go beyond."

She looked at David and in his eyes she must have seen sincerity to which she smiled and then she looked straight at me.

"Do you love him too, Emily?"

"With my heart, Mom. To pieces." I cried , standing where I was.

"Come here" she opened her arms for me, I rushed to her and hugged her and we both cried.

"You could have told me. I thought we were not just mom and daughter but best friends too." She said in a sad voice.

"We are mom and I wanted too but then I was afraid and David wanted we wait till we reach home. We feared of questions and things going bad between our families. We were scared no one would understand, especially Dad, I know you never keep secrets from dad so I couldn't share Mom. I am Sorry for hurting you but believe us Mom, we love each other."

"Emily, you are too young to know and decide for your future baby. You are just my little girl."

"I will always be your little Emily Mom, but I am growing up now and I am sure of what I feel. I don't know of future mom and I don't care, I know I love David, that's what I know Mom."

She said nothing. She just sat there looking helplessly at me and thinking....

"I shall have to speak to your dad about it but I fear he will not tolerate the act you both pulled out tonight. He loves you, Emily, you know but his name, respect and dignity means a lot to him. And you know how possessive he is about us. It would affect him a great deal for you to be deceiving him right under his nose."

"Please Aunt Amy, please don't tell him. Alreast not now." David requested.

"You should have thought of the consequences before being so foolish, David. Even if i believe your feelings now, my husband will not takeit that easily. He is very strict about such things and Emily is aware of that"

I knew but somehow it never bothered my heart but now when mom isa syaing so i felt my heart stiffening inside with fear of how dad would react to it if mom tells her. David saw the look in my face.

"I am Sorry for it looks like so but if I talk about my feelings, then all I intended was to surprise and make Emily feel happy, show her how I care for her, how special she is for me. This rose arrangement and the candle heart was my way of showing love to her. I had no motives behind doing that and I am sure Emily too wouldn't cross those lines, I wouldn't let her too even if she felt carried away. This much faith and hold I have on myself and my love is pure and true"

"I am trying to believe you David, i know you are a nice guy and i can see your feelings right through. A mother can't go wrong when it comes to see if the guy lover her girl or not. Mother's instincts, but sadly Andrew is not so easily convinced. He is too protective of Emily."

"I am requesting you to not tell Uncle, Please. I am not saying this because I am scared for myself but for I know doing so would affect things between him and Emily. I never want Emily to be hurt, not when it's all my fault, I asked her to come wearing that dress, I arranged all this. It's all my fault so punish me all you want to but please don't let Emily be hurt. It's my fault, Aunt Amy"

I couldn't take it , I couldn't see David requesting so much to my mom for me. I almost shouted at him "Shut up David. Just shut up. Dont call it just our fault when I was as much a part of it as you."

"Don't try to save me by lying, Emily. Truth is that I asked you to come , I did it all"

" I never questioned you. I willingly followed because i wanted the same. It was my decision to be part of all this."

"Emily... Please... Keep quiet" David said firmly.

"No, I wouldn't."

"Both of you, keep your vocies down if you do not want to wake up other's too" Mom warned. "Trying to save each other by fighting with each other too wouldn't solve a thing. I know what to do but both of you have to trust me and do what i ask you both to do. Will you?"

"Mom, you putting in conditions"? I said in shock.

"I will do what is best for all of us , Emily. Don't you trust your mother?"

"Ofcourse, i do mom. Its not that i doubt but i am not having a good feeling" A tear ran down my face and my mother came forward and hugged me.

"Don't cry, trust me with this too like you always had"

"We will do what you say, Aunt Amy. You have my words, i will not diappoint you." David said.

Mom looked at both of us. "Promise'?

"Promise" David gave his word.

I still was hesitant but when i looked ta David i knew i had to trust him and mom. "Promise" i said, controlling my fears and my tears.

"Then let things be just as they are for now and focus on your lives, your plans which you had before this happened, study and carve a life out for yourselves. Especially you, David. so that Andrew could have faith in you , to trust you enough to give our daughter's hand in yours when time comes. can you both do it?"

This was sounding so perfect. Like everything take care of. There was nothing to fear, nothing to worry. Nothing that could hurt. 

David agreed "I assure you, i will do my best"

"Me too, Mom" 

"But it isn't over yet. There is one more thing."

I felt my breath stuck in my throat. So, there is a condition to it after all. It wouldn't be so simple and easy.

David too looked worried.

"What is it, Mom? You raising up a condition. don't you?"

"Nothing that was not there already. You two have my word that if you two keep your promise and do as i say then i shall myself talk to Andrew about this and make him see things but its about your life, your happiness Emily, No matter how i convinced i feel by what you say i still want to take time and be sure..."

"say it, mom"

"You both will not have nay contact with each other until you are 18"

I gasped "MOM..you can't..."

"You have my promise Aunt Amy, i wouldnt break it at any cost, no matter what happens" David supplied in before i could complete.

"No, David, you can't promise for me... this isn't happening'

"I am glad you understood, David. I know Emily gets emotional but i expected you will"

"Noo, Mom, No David, Its 3 years. can't you see it David"

"I can Emily but you are forgetting something we were already parting ways. we had no clue how we would manage things. I know 3 year's is a long time but atleast we know that at the end of it we will be together. Aunt Amy will talk to Uncle for us, I need time to be capable enough on my own to ask for you, you need time to be what is expected of you, which you should be , as i would want the same for you and you knew it from the start, Emily. Didn't you?"

"3 year's? Its just too much... i will not let anything affect my studies or anything. How is it reasonable that we stay apart and be hurt when we can do just perfectly even by staying in touch."

"Because you both are too young and take it as a test or anything you want Emily but i need to be sure that you both really love each other to stand this test and feel the same way for each other inspite of the separation."

'You doubt us, you don't belive even me, MOm"?

"I am not doubting for you, i am caring for you the way i think is right. I have seen world than you, Don't even question me on things you still have not seen because we never let you see the tough side of life but you are growing up now and this decision as who you chose to live your life with matters alot and being your parents its our right and duty to look in for you, 15 is not the age to decide or be sure of things for your whole life'

"Mom, this is not any reason"

"It is, Emily. Why can't you understand what Aunt Amy is saying. It's the only thing that can be done because Uncle Andrew will never accept otherwise."

"In a short while, David understood your father but you couldn't, Emily? I am surprised, it doesnt came to your mind at all that Andrew will not agree to all this, at your age, knowing how conservative and old-fashioned he is about such things"

"Mom.."

"Emily..Don't make it more hard, please" David requested.

I looked at him and without saying a word i left the room.

"Emily.." I heard Mom and David but i was too angry, hurt and sad to hear or say anything. I ran to my room, drop myself on the bed and cried.