*Karthik Pov*

"Uh... Mom!" I mumbled lifting my head and stared at her while she stared back at us with a shocked look covering her face.

I felt Rashmi slapping my hands still holding her and I immediately released her before clearing my throat to say something, but I don't know what to actually say in this situation.

"I... wanted to call you both for lunch. Your Dad is also here to have lunch with us." She said looking at us and I frowned at her.

"Why is Dad here? He didn't take his lunch with him in the morning?" I asked, remembering her sending the box along with him when I was having breakfast.

"He suddenly wished to have it here and also take some rest for some time." She replied nodding at us and walked away.

"I can't believe we got busted like this." Rashmi whispered and I glanced at her smiling.

"We were not doing anything other than hugging." I assured her, but she just rolled her eyes at my assurance and continued to take deep breaths.

"Maybe I should go back to my hostel." She said looking at me, but I shook my head, holding her hand and walked out of the room to reach the dining area.

I can see Mom and Dad already sitting and I introduced her the same way I did it with Mom before making her sit down.

"We know about all his friends, but we didn't meet any new friends after he joined high school." Mom started the conversation while serving food for us.

"I visited everyone's house except him until now." Rashmi said nodding.

That's because I got to know about my biological parents' past and I didn't want to burden them anymore for anything. So, I tried to trouble them as little as I can.

"It's a good thing that he stopped his friends from coming otherwise you would have been troubled because of his popularity, Aunty. I still remember the trouble Rohan's parents went through, but it was a blessing for them, they go for business trips frequently." She assured her and I stared at her frowning.

"I am not that popular." I said shaking my head.

"Right!" she mumbled ignoring me and smiled at my parents who are staring at her quiet obviously.

"Mom! Dad! You will make her feel uncomfortable with your staring." I commented and they both cleared their throats.

"Don't mind, dear! It's just that he never brought his girlfriend home, even when we knew he was dating because of Rohan. But now we didn't even know he has a girlfriend and he brought you home. So, we are kind of shocked." Mom explained.

"You are talking about my ex-girlfriends near my present girlfriend, Mom." I mumbled and she looked startled for a second before hurrying to serve the curry.

"Aunty! Just think of me as his friend for now and treat me like you treat Rohan and others." Rashmi said, stopping her and this time she took her turn to serve Mom and Dad.

"Why are you not serving me that?" I asked, looking at the dish she is holding.

"It has coriander leaves and you don't like it." She pointed out placing the dish back on the table.

"Right! These days he is not staying at home and I started adding that again to the curries. I forgot to not add it." Mom said frowning.

"I don't know how you managed his picky eating all these years, Aunty. We all get tired because of his habits." She commented.

"Right? I have to think twice before making something." Mom said nodding.

"Even my Dad is like that." Rashmi said sighing.

"We still have to meet Mehrin I think. We already met Chitra last time when Kalyan came with her to our home to drop you." Mom said looking at me and I nodded.

"I didn't thank you properly for the gifts you chose for both of us." She added looking at Rashmi.

"He only bought them, Aunty. He told me your personalities and I chose based on that." Rashmi bit her tongue immediately after saying that looking at Dad.

"So, those shirts are for my personality?" he asked looking at her.

"Everyone needs a change sometimes, Uncle." She replied, shrugging and calmly finished her lunch after that, not staring at them again but I saw them smiling at her in passing intervals.

"Thanks for the lunch, Aunty. I will take my leave now." She said after we all finished our lunch and walked into the living area.

"You didn't see my room at all." I said, frowning at her while she glared at me.

"Yes! Stay for some more time, dear." Mom said, smiling at her and gestured me to take her.

"Let's go!" saying that I held her hand and walked towards my bedroom.

"I can't believe you said that." She complained the moment I closed the door.

"What did I do? Today is supposed to be our date and you want to leave so soon." I pointed out.

"We can continue our date even outside." She pointed out frowning at me.

"We will be comfortable here than outside and I want our first date to be special." I said, shrugging and stared at her while she looked around.

"Did you forget what your Mom witnessed in the study room? I wanted to leave soon so that it will be not that awkward." She mumbled, walking to the photographs on the wall.

"Then why were you talking so much at the table?" I asked, walking to the switchboard to turn on the fan.

"I didn't want to give them my first impression as a silent girl and later shock them completely. And I actually behaved like your friend more than your girlfriend. They looked more nervous than me." She replied chuckling.

"That's true! It's because of me. I was kind of distant from the time I was a kid, but during high school when I find out about the whole truth, I became completely conscious near them and took each step thinking so many times to not make any mistake and trouble them." I explained and she looked at me smiling.

"Maybe when you cause a trouble, they will feel more comfortable near you." She said shrugging.

"By the way, they totally like you." I said smiling at her.

"I already expected that. They all just love me like I already told you guys so many times." She said, flipping her hair in style and I laughed looking at her.

"So, what's important is for you to like them in return?" I asked, folding my arms.

"Exactly! And I am still working on my verdict." She replied, biting her lip controlling her smile.

"I need to go and tell them to give even better performance by the time you leave so that they can get your acceptance." I turned to walk towards the door but she immediately held my hand stopping me.

"Stop it! And what do you actually want to show in your room?" she asked looking around.

"Maybe this..." I trailed off pulling her into my arms and kissed her feeling glad that everyone looks happy meeting each other.

****

"Did you drop her carefully?" Mom asked when I returned from dropping Rashmi at her hostel.

"Yes! Why is he still here?" I asked gesturing Dad.

It was not that awkward, when we both walked out of our room to leave as we had our works to finish for tomorrow.

"He was just curious why did you show the business plans to her." She finally said when he sat in silence.

"Because she will be working along with me from tomorrow on those." I replied sitting with them.

"Is she as knowledgeable as you in this?" he finally asked looking at me.

"No! But no one can learn something fast and perfect like her if she really wishes to." I said and he sighed shaking his head.

"We like her as your girlfriend, but involving her in the business matter before it started is not a good thing, Karthik. No matter what she is still your girlfriend." He advised.

"She is not just my girlfriend, Dad. She is my last girlfriend and I promised her six years ago that she will be part of this and she actually believed my dream even though I was just a teenager at that time. You need not worry about this." I assured him.

"You know how he is always thinking more than twice before doing something. Don't worry about it and let him do what he wishes." Mom said looking at him.

"But is she really your last girlfriend?" she asked this time looking at me frowning.

"Yes! There will be no other, irrespective of how our relation will turn out." I replied, smiling and walked to my room, nodding at them when they stared at me in shock.

Is this enough trouble that I am supposed to cause, Rashmi? I thought, smiling and started packing more clothes I need and left for Kalyan's flat after packing everything I need along with the plans.

*Rashmi Pov*

"Ugh! I am very tired. Can someone get my lunch for me?" I asked, placing my head on the table and closed my eyes.

After some time I felt a tap on my shoulder and I sat straight to see they actually brought one for me. I smiled at everyone not knowing who bought it for me.

"You both are continuously working on the things even during breaks for the past two months and this week it's worse." Mehrin commented frowning at both of us.

"It used to be only Karthik before, but now even you join." Kalyan commented.

"At least because of her, he is sitting with us during lunch breaks. Otherwise, he used to be in the library most of the time." Rohan said shaking his head.

For the bet he made with Karthik, I punished him by having our date for the past two months at his place, making him stick to his room most of the time.

"I guess being his girlfriend is not a simple one. Your Ex's will feel happy that you dated them in a mediocre sense otherwise they would have died." Chitra laughed looking at me while I am feeling tired to even lift the spoon.

"Do you have time for your studies? Our exams will start soon." Mehrin said still looking at me worriedly.

"What need is there when she has a fixed job ready after college?" Rohan commented and I glared at him.

"We will never appoint you." I said, shaking my head and glanced at Karthik who is busy looking at some article.

"We need to work on this today, Rashmi." He finally said, pointing the article he is checking.

"See? You guys must help me with my exams. Will you?" I asked, looking at them and they all nodded smiling.

"You guys are the best. Let's cheer for this best group." I said, lifting my water bottle and they all lifted their own laughing and we clinked them together.

"But won't it be hard if you guys break up?" Chitra asked, smirking and I just rolled my eyes at her question before we all lifted the bottles to take a sip ignoring her comment.

"That won't happen because I don't believe in divorce." I coughed hearing those words along with them and we stared at him in shock.

"Is that some kind of stupid proposal?" Mehrin asked, gaping at him.

"No! He can't propose her. I need to do it first." Rohan said sitting straight.

"I can lie, saying he is not a good guy near Uncle if you want." Kalyan offered, but I just cleared my throat before calmly placing my bottle back on the table.

"Guys! Even if we break up, there will be no effect on this business because I know how to separate personal and private." I said smiling at the sweetly and completely ignored Karthik's words.

"And I didn't hear what he said at all." I added glaring at him.

"I can help you in remembering it." Chitra offered and this time I glared at her.

"What was that during lunch break?" I asked the moment he dropped me at the hostel.

"What was what?" he asked, frowning at me.

I stared at him for a few seconds before nodding and walked inside waving him off. It's good that even he is acting like he didn't say anything.

****

"You what?" I asked him, frowning and stopped arranging my pens.

"I will come with you to Noida to spend a few days there. We still need to work, remember." He replied while I just stared at him.

"Is this what someone says just before the exam?" I asked hitting on his shoulder continuously.

"If I fail, it is completely your fault." I warned him before holding my pens and walked to my seat, ignoring others who are controlling their laughs even though they are feeling nervous.

"Are you going to fail, Rashmi?" Chitra asked, looking at me after walking towards me as I was waiting for all of them.

"And what's the big deal if he comes with you? Even I am going to Kalyan's place for my holidays for a week." She added looking at me.

"So, we all will travel together?" I asked her and she nodded.

"Actually, we both will go by train. We both just discussed." We both turned hearing Karthik's voice to see them walking towards us.

"Then you book the tickets. I don't want to tire myself by trying to trying for them." I mumbled sighing and waited for Mehrin and Rohan.

"What? Then I will be alone here." Rohan said the moment he heard our plans.

"How will you be alone? You will have your phone with you." I pointed out smirking and he scoffed at me but nodded.

"So, how did you write your exam?" Karthik asked holding my hand.

"Don't even talk to me." I replied, taking my hand away still mad at him for saying that just before the exam and I had to make myself not to think about his words during the exam.

"As usual! I am tired of their silly fights." Mehrin said, shaking her head and we all left the campus to prepare for the next exam.

****

"Two tier?" I asked, looking at the tickets and he nodded.

"Be glad that it is not one tier. I stopped him from doing that." Kalyan said, looking at me.

"They are available, unlike the other ones." He said shrugging.

"Just don't tell your Dad, Rashmi." Kalyan said, looking at me and I nodded.

"By the way, we will be in Noida by the time you guys reach. Do you want us to pick you both?" He asked, looking at the schedule.

"Sure! I will not ask my Dad to come to the station if you do that. It will be midnight by the time we reach there." I replied nodding at Kalyan.

"I will be there, right." Karthik said looking at me.

"You will not get any transport that late easily for you to drop me at home and then return to Kalyan's place. And my Dad will come by himself if he just knows the timings. So, it is better like this." I explained and he nodded smiling.

"Ugh! I can't believe you guys are planning your traveling like exams even though we are already done with them." Mehrin commented frowning at us.

"These are not just traveling plans, Mehrin. They are romantic plans. Didn't you realize when the traveling partners are couples when they can all travel together?" Rohan asked smirking at us.

"You are right!" Karthik said, nodding before I can scold him.

"That's why Karthik said we will travel separately." Kalyan added and I stared at him in shock.

"Then why did you think we are traveling like this?" Chitra asked looking at my expression.

"To give both of you some privacy." I replied looking at her.

"Are we not a couple too who needs privacy?" Karthik asked frowning at me.

"You are still a kid, Rashmi." Rohan said, shaking his head and they all laughed at Mehrin and I.

"It's really tiring, Rohan. I am glad you can understand." Karthik said, nodding at him.

"We both are still kids, Mehrin. I don't deserve this old person." I said, looking at her and held her hand in mine.

"Aryan is still available. We can go right now to his restaurant where my Fiance is also waiting." She said going along with my words.

"Let's go!" I said, nodding and we both took our bags to stand up, but Karthik held my hand stopping me while Chitra stopped Mehrin.

"You are my girlfriend." Karthik stated taking my bag away.

"And you need to pay for this treat as this is from your side." Saying that Chitra took Mehrin's bag away.

"Damn!" she mumbled before paying up and I laughed at her.

"I tried to help you." I said, shrugging and leaned back when he placed his hand around my shoulder. We partied hard making Mehrin pay a lot as a treat for her engagement date fixed one week after our next semester starts. This way she will get married before she can finish post graduation for sure, but she looks like she doesn't mind anymore.