RAGHVANSH'S POV:

Tapping my foot impatiently—I check whether there is any sort of message from my Venus but to my dismay, there is not.

She might be busy, Raghvansh. Give her a goddamn break.

No. She might have finished with the orientation by now or maybe a few hours ago, but she can be studying. I shall not disturb her, and no way I can text her.

Well, maybe because I have lied to her about going to an interview followed by a shoot. I don't feel guilty about it though, because I'm doing nothing wrong—other than standing infront of her house.

An excited chuckle leaves my mouth only for Utkarsh to glare at me, "what's your problem, Raghvansh? I shouldn't have got you here in the first place. Can't you keep your mouth shut for a minute? Here I am—scared and nervous. I seriously don't think it's a good idea. They are going to hate me for what I did—and it's not just Aaraya anymore. The entire family feels like mine—they are so nice. What if they hate me and I lose all of this—"

His annoying rant is interrupted by the door creaking open, to reveal a man approximately in his early-fifties.

But it isn't just any man, he's the father of the love of my life. My Piha.

"Oh—Utkarsh beta! You finally come, I thought you forgot about me. I'm sure you're here for Aaraya, who cares about this old man. Haha—ouch," he says and my brother hits his arm.

"Uncle yaar, so dramatic."

I raise my eyebrow at the duo who ignore me and not to forget the fact that Piha's father hasn't noticed me as yet.

Utkarsh clears his throat awkwardly and says, "uncle, you wanted to meet him ri-right? So I thought h-how about I ask him to accompany me here. I'm sure you'll be happy to meet him."

He turns to me and eyes me something which I don't understand and I hear a dramatic gasp. Can Piha and her Dad stop being so similar?

Now I realise where she has got her traits from. 

Diverting my attention to her father in front of me, I pass him a smile at which he widens his eyes and gulps. He bends over to whisper something in Utkarsh's ear at which he nods making me suspicious.

What kind of top secret are they talking about?

A voice is heard as both of them stare at me, "Hriddan, are you done? Wasn't it supposed to be Utkarsh? Get him in, why're you making the poor boy stand outside? It's so cold."

Is that supposed to be her mother?

Do not say 'my future mother-in-law', Raghvansh. You are very annoying.

Okay, stop now. I wasn't going to say that, but...that sounds good too. Anything related to Piha sounds great.

I release a dreamy sigh only to realise that I'm meeting her parents now—and I should stop thinking about my Venus for a few hours.

The women I assume as Piha's mother, peeks though the door as she stumbles and is caught by her husband.

Dammit, can I stop using so mamy relations/terms. It is confusing.

"Ra-Raghvansh Bir-la?" The lady speaks. Well, her mom and dad—both look young compared other parents of those of Piha's age.

Were they teenage parents? Venus has never told me about it.

A smile grazes my lips as I nod and both of them look at each other—then passing me a nod, they turn to Utkarsh, "you could have atleast told us!"

He just smiles as there is nothing he could do—given that I forced him to get me along.

And yes,

Also tell them that I'm his brother.

Pressing my lips into a straight line, I greet them, "hello. I'm really sorry to come here all of sudden, I should have informed you all prior. Hope it won't be inconvenient for you both."

I watch them pass me polite smile—still a little confused, "no no, it is okay, sir. It's our pleasure to meet you."

No. The fuck? They did not call me sir, did they? This can't be for real.

I tell them sternly, "don't call me that please. Raghvansh it is. No wait, you can call me Raghvan."

They widen their eyes once again which I am not surprised, given that I don't go around asking everyone to call me by my nickname. Everyone knows it's the nickname my close ones call me by.

"Why're you standing outside, Raghvan and Utkarsh beta, come in." Her mom instructs and flashes another sweet smile—just as Piha's.

Dammit, I already know her family is going to be as kind and nice as her.

Which reminds—how excited I am to tell her that I had visited her place and met her parents, but that is for when I go back home. Maybe her parents or sister might inform her the same earlier than I do—and I do not want to miss the sight of my Venus all surprised and shocked.

I quietly follow my so called elder brother in as I look around the living room of the familiar house.

Well, it is quite different from Piha's room. The walls of the room are cream in colour and a few photo frames hang on them—most of them family photos, a few of her parents together, followed by the siblings duo. I watch a picture of Utkarsh and Aaraya hang on the wall—beside the frame of Piha's and another man, who happens to be Dr Roman.

They considered him their family,

Will they think of me as same one day?

Instantly shrugging of the thoughts, I sit beside Utkarsh who settles on matching coloured sofa.

"Raghvansh S—I mean Raghvan, feel at home, make yourself comfortable okay? I'll get you both something," her father says and leaves the hall even before I can object.

Dammit, my diet is going to be ruined and at this point, I do not even care—because I cannot say no to them given that they are the parents of the love of my life.

Her mom sits opposite of us, and says, "if you need anything, just inform us okay? Don't feel shy."

Shy? I'm not Piha, am I?

That was very lame, Raghvansh.

Whatever. I grin and tell her, "no no, ma'am. I won't."

"What is up with you both? When Utkarsh had visited us for the first time—he called us ma'am and sir too. Stop being so formal, beta," she says and I smile. Can I call her mom already? She is so sweet.

I watch Piha's father enter along with a plate filled with snacks at which my eyes narrow.

No, Dammit, Raghvansh. Control.

12 years since I've started taken my health seriously, but I still can't help but behave like a kid when I see junk.

But, I can't even say no, nor can I eat given that the last thing I want to do is work out for another half and hour in gym tomorrow.

Come on, Raghvansh. Haven't you heard of 'cheat day'? Don't you have it once a fortnight?

But didn't I decide to have it during the IKL—Indian Kabaddi League—grand dinner.

No, what the fuck? I'll eat salad that day, no problem.

Which reminds me that IKL is starting within 20 days and I'll be leaving for Delhi three days later as I play for and captian Delhi warriors.

Normally—I would have felt sad, but now Piha isn't here in Pune, so the city has lost it's charm and I don't feel the home vibe anymore.

How much ever of a goner I sound—it's true because she is so fucking wonderful and I can see nothing beyond her nowadays which makes slightly worried.

I unlock my phone once again to check whether she has texted me but no, she hasn't. As I am about to lock my phone, my gaze drops to the photo set as the wallpaper—making my heart melt. A smile grazes my lips as I look at the selfie I clicked in her sand park that day, with her in my arms. She lifts Ragha happily as I kiss her temple lovingly and the girl grins.

Ragha?

As you might have guessed—Piha and I have renamed her 'kitty'. But why Ragha?

Well, though the kitten is staying with me, after all it is also Pihas' and hence, we named him Ragha, Raghvansh plus Piha.

Sounds like you're having a kid, Raghvansh.

As my thoughts are about to divert where they shouldn't, I hear uncle's voice, "Ragh-van, I'm sorry. We don't really have anything good at home right now, given that the only person who eats junk in this house is Piha, my younger daughter. And she has recently joined college so..."

I press my lips into a thin line, not letting a chuckle escape my mouth. No need to remind me of my Venus, she's always revolving in my mind.

My eyes fall on the plate of Bakarwadi—and my fingers involuntarily run to the snack picking it up, "never mind, Uncle. I love bakarwadi."

The dish melts in my mouth but Utkarsh's words that come out of no where, make me choke, "Raghvansh is my brother!"

~√~√

Author's note*

So, finally—Raghvansh has met her parents, and he loves them already.

Seems like Utkarsh is going to confess everything now and do let me know what you think are going to be their reactions ;-)

Also, please do check out my new Graphic shop! I've tried something like this for the first time, and I hope you check it once!

Do vote and take care!