An excuse is a skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.
– Billy Sunday

Jagruthi

"Papa! Don't yell. You did the same thing, how does it feel when I do that to you? It hurts doesn't it?" I questioned him holding diamond who's jumping in my arms.

In his face, he didn't tell me till yesterday night that I won't be going home. So, I didn't tell him that I'm at Dev's house until now. Ever since I told him that he has been yelling at me without a break like it's an armageddon.

"I know I hurt you Janu. But this is not how you behave young lady. I'm sending Shyam right now to pick you up. What about security? Do you know how scared I am.." He kept yelling but I took my ear of the phone.

Devansh's house is really awesome, it's so green with plants animals everywhere. Who would sit in a boring old room when I can roam out in this luscious greenery?

The feeling of fresh air and walking on wet grass with bare foot is so amazing.

"Are you listening to me JAGATI?" My Papa yelled at me gaining my attention back to him.

"I was mad papa, you didn't think about me, I am always a second priority to you. It's just for 4 days and I like it here. Devansh's family is so welcoming and I am not com.."

Suddenly I felt someone tap on my shoulder and it is Devansh's dad. I smiled at him while he signaled to give the phone to him.

"I am giving the phone to Devansh's dad. He wants to talk to you." I said and gave my phone away.

"Hello sir! My name is Raghuvaran." Uncle said and started nodded his head agreeing with my father.

"We will take care of your daughter so don't worry about her." He said again making me feel thankful that he is supporting me.

"I understand that she didn't tell you, she is just a child. I'll take care of her. I will give you my number, you can call me anytime."

"Uh.huh...hmm. She looks like she is." Uncle said smiling at me.

After few more minutes, he gave the phone back.

"Fine, stay with them. If you repeat this again, I'm gonna send you back to Grandma's and you won't be attending college either. So, have fun and Don't worry I'll take care of your mom." He told and I jumped in happiness.

"Thank you papa! I love you." I said and cut the call.

I walked to the animal barn and found uncle cleaning it alone.

"Thank you so much for convincing my dad uncle."

"You should've informed them first. Your father sounds worried." He said picking out trash.

"He deserved it Uncle and how can I help you?" I asked him.

"You are a guest, just sit and enjoy."

"Offo.. Uncle! Let me help you. Where is Dev?" I said and started picking up the dried grass on the floor just like uncle.

Daimond was stuck in a puddle this morning, when I found. So, had mud all over my dress this morning. After meeting Uncle and Aunty I washed myself up and had breakfast and took a nap till now. I couldn't find Devansh anywhere after waking up.

"He took his mother out for some groceries." He said and I nodded.

Devansh's  father is not much of a talker, it's always question and answer session with him. Maybe it's an Army thing, to give out serious vibes.

"Why don't you talk Uncle? It's so boring without company." I told him raking the grass to clean for the festival tomorrow.

"People talk a lot and most of them are lies, that's why I prefer animals."

His words pierced me hard, like he meant that I was lying. Did he know that I am lying about my parents? Did he listen to me and dad talking?

"Just like how you hid the truth about coming here to your father. Do you know how worried he sounded? Lies just hurt people. " He said washing the barn with water

Phew.. He doesn't know about me and my father. What he said is correct? but lying about my identity is the only way I get to enjoy life. Lying is the only way I get to live and experience things.

"I know Uncle, but he hurt me too. If Dev didn't invite me, I would've been all alone." I sighed thinking about it.

"What was the stupidest thing you did in your life Unlce? " I questioned him ignoring the boring topic to lighten up the mood in the barn.

He stood still for a minute and thought about and answered me with a biggest smile on his face.

"Okay! Don't tell Anshu about this. When I was in 12th grade, There was this girl named Sarita. I had a huge crush on her, I skipped my Math final and ran from my exam center to hers and confessed my love, Later I got beaten up by her fiancé for proposing her and by my dad for skipping the exam. My father got so mad that he enrolled me in the military."

Wow! Just Wow!

"Does aunty know about this?" I asked him with glee that everyone has a mischievous angle in them.

"She does! " He said and continued to work with a proud smile on his face.

"What about you and Anshu, Do you like him?" He asked me.

Is he planning to give me a heart attack or what?

"I like him, he is a good friend." I told him calming down my heart and picking up the water pipe to clean along side him now that the raking is done.

He nodded his head a continued to clean the floors, That's when the world's fun idea hit me.

"Uncle, do you wanna know about the stupid thing I am going to do today? " I asked him and he nodded and looked at me for answer.

I turned the water knob to a full speed and pointed at him drenching in water. He looked shocked at first and then he closed his eyes fisting his hands.

Oh my god! He is mad, and he will kick us out of the house. Why can't you keep your stupid ideas to yourself.

I am already scared stop annoying me

So, I quietly turned the water pipe away from him. I took a few gulps in fear and opened my mouth to apologize.

"Aaah..Bluh...Bluh."

Those are the only words that came out of my mouth because Uncle pointed his Water pipe at me and some of the water went into my mouth.

"Soooo fudging cold,  I thought you were mad." I exclaimed shivering with cold, looking at my soaking wet dress jumping out of his water path and hitting him with some more water.

"Did you really think I would miss? I was a sniper for the Indian Army." Uncle smirked at me coming forward with the water hose carrying it like a gun.

I  turned around run away from him and found two people at the barn entrance who's mouth are wide open with shock.

Me and Uncle looked at each other for a second and nodded our heads with the only thought in our minds and immediately splashed the water on them, me at Devansh and Uncle at Aunty.

"RAGHUUU!" Aunty shrieked while Dev stood still without saying a word looking at me. I got scared and stopped drowning him in water, Dev left.

Uncle laughed out loud looking at aunty screaming as the water kept hitting her continuously till she ran into the house.

"That was fun!" He said looking at aunty's disappearing.

"Yeah it was!"

I agreed and turned around, started to clean the floors instead of people this time.

After a few steps, I felt a ton of water land on my head making me fall down on the dirty floors because of the force making me look at the source of the water.

"Devansh! I'm going to kill you." I huffed getting up from the floor and chased him out of the barn.

I ran after him and caught him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him back which made us fall on the mud floor with Devansh on top of me. He supported himself with his hands and didn't put all the weight on me.

I looked at his crystal clear face, shiny hair, his musky smell, those pretty pink lips and the beautiful black eyes with the speck of gold focused on my lips which made me bite them in anticipation.

He looks so beautiful, I could just....

Please woman! Control your hormones.

My heart started racing like I was running a marathon, every thing felt so clear and in slow motion. I could hear his breathing, see his eyes move from my lips to eyes, Yet I had no power or the will to stop him from looking at me. I wanted all his attention on me, I wanted kiss those lips of his. I wanted to him to make me feel all the things I've never felt before.

We are definitely going to a doctor after this. You are going crazy!

I am not crazy, I like him too much that I can't help myself with these feelings.

"Janu!" Dev barely whispered and leaned closer to my lips. There is 1 cm gap between our lips, If he or me moved one more inch...

He will be cheating on Sahastra and you would be branded as a home wrecker.

Way to cheer me up

"Don't look at me like that, How can I control myself when you look so delectable? You're smell intoxicates me, the way you bite your lips makes me want do things... I'm scared that you will melt in my hands like butter, please stay away from me before I do things that I will regret." He whispered and left me all alone drenched in wet mud floor.

Every time he said the word you our lips touched for a mere second, that second felt magical to me.

You are gross and an Idiot for enjoying this.

What am I going to do with these feelings for him? Is it good for him or me to be around each other?

Not at all, let's go back home away from him

I loved it though, I don't want to.

I closed my eyes not able to take in all these overwhelming feelings.

Dev told me he likes me, but is it possible to like someone else when you are in a relationship, with all these thoughts I washed my self changed into Pajamas with a shirt quoting Big Bang Theory and came down to help aunty cook dinner.

"I'm sorry Aunty, I started the mess not uncle." I said looking at Uncle through the window who freshened up with 4 other people cleaning.

"It's fine dear! I haven't seen him that carefree in my life. He always acts tough and strong, I'm glad that he still has his inner child." She said looking at me with adoration.

"What are you making Aunty?"

"I'm making Guthi Vankaya( stuffed Eggplant) curry, Anshu loves it. It's been so long since he had and he asked me to make for him." She said with happiness in her eyes and cooking with pleasure.

My Mama is a disaster when it comes to cooking, she can make a rocket work but not food. She fudging burnt down the kitchen when I was 3, but dad is an excellent chef. His butter chicken is the best I've ever had in my life.

"What do you like? I'll make it for you." Aunty asked me.

"I like Chicken Biryani, Butter Chicken, Methi Malai Mattar, Dal ,Kheer, Dosa and the list goes on Aunty. I will eat anything. My friend Kajal taught me to never waste a grain of food." I completed my imagination of eating everything once.

"My mom is not cooking all those for you." Said the new voice coming into the kitchen.

"Will you cook them for me then?" I asked him with a pout, batting my eyelashes.

Devansh paused looking at me checking out my outfit, it felt good to hold that power over him.

His hair all wet falling on his face, his shirt clinging on to his body and he is smells like lemon bars.

"Why will I cook for you?"He smirked with arrogance looking at me checking him out shamelessly.

"Because you have to, and in return you get to be my friend" I replied with a smug looked while he gaped at my response.

Dev and Me started bickering like kids entertaining Aunty while she was cooking. It was fun, I felt like I was at my home with my Mama and Papa.

If I was at home, Mama and me would be chilling on the couch watching Netflix while dad would cook for us. I hate that they chose this profession in a world where they can be anything.

"What are sulking about? Let's go eat." Dev nudged me and pulled me off the counter top along with to the dining area, the table is filled with food.

"Uncle! Why are you watching TV? Let's eat together." I called for him.

"He likes to watch the news while eating." Aunty shrugged at him while Dev ignored me.

I wanted to eat together that's what we do at my house may be it's because that's the only time we get to spend together. So I moved all the food to the living room near the TV and made everyone sit there along with uncle on the floor.

Aunty and Uncle were discussing things to do for tomorrow. Dev doesn't talk much in his fathers presence, maybe he is scared of him.

"She has a crush on him." Devansh said and I turned my head to look who I had crush on.

Is it Theo James or Paul Wesley?

It was my father talking about the some new rule on the TV with the prime minister and my mother by his side. He looks so calm and peaceful, Looking at him bought a smile on my face. I pulled my phone out and quickly texted.

I miss you and Mama, you look handsome as always. Call me when you are free.

"He is good looking. And he has the best smile ever."  I replied to them and looked at my plate.

"You and him have the same smile, uncanny resemblance. It's like you are related. " Aunty said looking at me scanning my face and the TV where my Papa is talking making my heart stop.

I look a lot like my grandma, my dad's mom. That's why people can't find the similarities between me and my parents.

"You wish! She looks completely different Maa. Don't boost her ego." Dev said and I felt relieved.

Why is he being rude to me ever since he said all those things to me. He did the same thing in the kitchen too, passing snide comments.

I wonder what's happening inside stupid brain.

"Aunty this curry is the best. It's like you have magic in your hands. What's the best thing Uncle can make? I would like to taste that too." I asked to get my mind off Devansh.

"I can make the best Fish Curry. I'll cook for you the day after tomorrow." Uncle said

"Dev why don't you help uncle make it, While me and Aunty relax that day." I said and Devansh started at me like I was unbelievable for saying that.

"Why do you need rest? You've been taking rest or making a mess ever since you came here." He replied curtly.

"Anshu! Is that how you talk to guests?" Uncle said louder and Dev kept quiet like a baby.

It's fun to see him with his father, he is scared of him and obeys whatever he says.

"Wow! Uncle you are the best."

"Listen to your Dad, Dev. You can't yell at me, I am an awesome guest and treat me like a god. Athidhi Devobhava." I said and stuck my tongue at him.

"Maa! This is unfair she is being mean to me and Nanna never said a word to her."  He whined like a little cute baby.

Aww! I wish I could comfort him.

And then what? hug him, kiss him.

Shut up!

I went to the kitchen to clean my plate and Dev was there rinsing his plate.

"Why are you being so mean to me? Don't you like me being here."  I asked him the question in my mind standing beside him.

My head reached his chest, why is he so tall?

"NOO! I like you being here. My parents like you so much. I'm sorry, I don't know how fight my feelings for you when you are this close to me. I am trying hard, I wish things were different between us." He said and slopping his shoulders.

He was kind enough to invite me to his place and I'm just making his life harder for him. It's hard for me too, to fight my attraction. I constantly remind myself that he has a girlfriend who's going to make my life hell. It's hard to stay away from me when he is pulling me to him.

"I know I said we could be friends but I can't handle it anymore. I can't keep my feeling bottled up like you do. I said yes to Sahastra because I didn't want to humiliate her by saying no before everyone, but I never knew it would cost me the love of my life."

Did he say that I am the love of his life? he likes no loves me. Devansh loves me.

I want to hug him hard and never leave him.

"My love is hopeless but I just can't seem to walk away from you. You just feel like the right one for me." He said and took my plate looking at me with those beautiful eyes of his.

I am really sorry Devansh, I feel the same but sometimes people can fall for each other, and still not be together. Every time I think of avoiding you, I just come closer. He has a hold on my heart that I can't seem to get rid off.

I am scared to stay with you, I am scared that you won't accept me, if you know who I really am. I am scared that you will be in risk once you know the real me.

Loving me comes with inevitable life risks and I can't put you through the pain I went through, You deserve much better than me, even though it breaks my heart to see you with someone else.

And that's day 1 at Devansh's place, hope you enjoyed this chapter.

It felt like I lost my touch as I started this chapter. I think I did okay, let me know how you feel.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I found the apt song for the situation. Listen to it and let me know your thoughts.

College is hectic, will try to update more frequently from now on.

Anyhoo. Don't forget to vote and comment.

Bye.

Love,
Sneha