"Who would you be if you were a Disney Princess?" asks little Emma.

Well, well. Let me think. The truth is, I have never compared myself with a Disney Princess before. So, I don't exactly know.

But I can't say that, can I? Because if I do, then my students will lose respect for me for not having an answer for a simple question.

At least to avoid the embarrassment, I need to come up with something.

"Mulan," I reply.

I hope she doesn't ask me to spell out the reason for choosing Mulan because honestly, I have nothing noble to say. I mean, it's not like Mulan is not spectacular. She is. But I'm not. At least not in ways like her.

I don't relate with Mulan for her fighting skills or her capacity to save the country from invaders. It's totally something else for me. Just like her, I also bring nothing but dishonor to my family when it comes to finding a match.

This is why despite my mom's efforts of setting me up on blind dates for the past eight years, I still haven't found any luck with men.

I mean, even after going on 119 blind dates, I'm still single as a Pringle!

I don't know why but I just can't raise my game with this one thing. I'm quite smart and I generally excel at anything that I do. But love and dating has always been a nightmare for me.

I fail at it so miserably that I now consider being single as my superpower. I also think that it could become my second name at this point.

Maybe I should call myself "Amelia Single".

Who knows, in the future, I might end up securing a spot in the history books for being the world's number one "romantically-challenged" champion. And maybe on that day, the society will learn to respect me.

Until then, I will have to put up with their stupid comments, and it's okay.

At least, my problem with dating is about to end. Because I will be trying my luck at finding love for one last time today.

Now, why do I say that?

Oh no, not because I'm sure of meeting my soulmate today. It's just that a few years back I got my parents to promise to me saying that I will only go on a maximum of 120 blind dates and once that number expires, I will have to be left on my own. Therefore, today's blind date will become my final date.

I already feel like an elf about to be set free by its master. Yay!

A little later, the last bell rings and I dash out of the school gate anxiously.

I glance at my phone screen. 1:45 pm. The terminating episode of my love life is about to take place in less than two hours.

"Everything is going to be fine," I mutter under my breath. Even though I have given up on dating and I'm doing this only for the sake of my parents, I still feel perturbed every time I go on a blind date.

This feeling of nervousness is almost inevitable.

As soon as I reach home, I quickly take a shower and get ready.

I wear my beige tall length jumpsuit with a pastel pink cardigan. It is one of my favorite outfits but I don't get to wear it often because blind date number 87 said that it wasn't very flattering for my body type. He thought that I looked funny in it. So, ever since then mom doesn't allow me to wear it much.

"Amelia, why don't you come and eat something?" asks mom the moment she walks into my room.

"Nah, I don't feel like eating right now."

"Are you sure? You will say this now and then later look for food when you're not supposed to. I don't want anything to go wrong this time like previously," mom replies.

I know exactly what she is referring to — blind date number 101.

So, once I got really hungry during a date and I ordered four donuts. Since the guy said he doesn't eat sugary food, I had all of them and then he was disappointed because I ate like a 'glutton'.

Idiot!

"Nothing of that sort would happen, mom. Don't worry," I assure her.

"Okay, then I will go and get dressed. Dad will be here in 10 minutes," says mom and walks out.

You guessed it right.

My parents do chaperone my blind dates. Always.

They have done it for the past 119 times and they are about to do it today too.

But then we don't ever inform the guys about it. It's done without their knowledge. Like a secret mission.

Mom and dad usually get seated at a distant table like private detectives and cover their faces with newspapers or books so that they cannot be seen. And then they observe the whole date like investigating a case. If by any chance the guy turns out to be a weirdo or a creep, I give them a signal and then we immediately leave.

Now, although they tell me they come to monitor the guy's behavior, I have this feeling that maybe they do it to ensure that I don't mess things up. Because trust me, I'm very capable of doing all the wrong things on a date.

"Ready?" asks mom and I hear dad honking at the same time.

"Yeah," I say and take a deep breath. I hope I don't make a fool out of myself today. Let's end this nice and smooth, and with some dignity.

Dad drives us to a place different from my designated blind date spot. This is strange.

"Why are we here? Why not the usual mall?" I question.

"Since this is the last one, we wanted to make it special. And who knows? Maybe a meetup at a five-star hotel will create some difference," says dad with a hopeful smile.

Oh, dear Lord! Are my parents still sanguine about my dating skills? Can someone knock some sense into them, please?

"But this would be expensive," I retaliate and mom clicks her tongue to say 'it's fine'.

I am worried about the outlay because my parents often end up bearing the full cost. Now, I don't expect men to pay always. I like going Dutch. But most guys don't even suggest that. They simply get happy about someone else paying for them. At least in my experiences, it has been that way.

Disgusting men.

I step out of the car and make my way to the hotel lobby. The atmosphere here is tranquil with slow instrumental music in the background, abstract wooden art adorning the walls, pleasant aroma filling the space, and above all a svelte and sophisticated view warmly welcoming the guests.

I sit in a comfortable, barrel back armchair. Mom and dad seat themselves a few tables away from mine.

We don't speak. We don't share smiles. We act like total strangers. We are so good at it that one can write a novel or direct a movie about us titled, "The Perfect Blind Date Act".

While I wait for the guy to show up, I scroll through my Instagram. The food on my feed as well as the aroma around makes my stomach rumble. I suddenly feel like abandoning my date and enjoying a meal instead.

But I cannot do that, can I? So, I continue to sit tight.

"Hi, you must be the one?" I hear the words and raise my head to find a guy standing next to me.

Charming smile. Sharp nose. Melodious voice. Eyelashes longer than mine. Great dressing sense. Overall, he is drop-dead gorgeous.

Oh my poor heart!

But who is this guy? Can't be my date for sure. I mean, he didn't even address my name. Using the words "the one" does not specify anything.

"Excuse me?" I utter with a confused look.

"I mean, my blind date. My aunt just told me her friend's daughter will be in a beige and pink outfit. That's all I know. Sorry, if you are not the one," he says with a nervous chuckle.

Damn! He is the blind date. For once, I'm impressed with my mom's choice!

"Oh yes. Please take a seat." I point at the other chair.

"Thanks. Let's start with the self-introductions, shall we?" he asks and adds, "My name is Noah. 29. Entrepreneur. I currently run an e-commerce store. Yeah, that's about it. Now you."

"Nice. Uh— I'm Amelia. 28. I work as an English teacher at a private school. I'm a true crime fan and I watch murder mystery shows like it's my job." I am a huge flop when it comes to dating and I'm not even here to make this work — I want to add but I refrain from saying it.

"Wow. I like your introduction better than mine," he says with a playful smile.

I blush.

I know this is stupid. But I can't help it. None of my previous blind dates have ever said anything nice to me like this. So, maybe that's why I'm acting this way.

It's okay.

We continue to speak about our interests, dreams and expectations. Surprisingly, I don't get bored. This guy is not at all like the others. He is fascinating.

However, I do get distracted at one point when I smell something so good.

Biryani — yes, that's what the girl at the table next to us is having. The royal and exotic dish that has a special place in my heart for as long as I can remember.

Ugh! I need that plate of rice right now.

My stomach growls and my mouth waters. I can sense myself drifting away from the conversation but I cannot help it.

I keep staring at the girl eating like a psychopath.

Mom was right. I should have had my lunch before I left. Now, I'm almost certain that Noah will also reject me on the basis of my greed.

Great. Just what I deserve.

But like coming out of a hypnotic trance, my attention gets refocused when my phone vibrates. It's a text from dad.

I look over to see my parents' disappointed faces. Oops!

I immediately make the "I'm sorry" expression at them and Noah notices it.

"What? You seem abstracted. Is everything alright?" he asks.

"Yeah. Sure. Obviously." I respond in an awkward tone.

He sighs and says, "Look Amelia. I know why you are looking at me that way. This is nothing new to me. You can just say it. You don't have to pretend."

I don't respond. I stare at him, trying to process his words.

What is he talking about? Is this about me ogling at that girl's food? Maybe. I mean, I'm sure that he and everyone else here saw me doing that.

But it also doesn't sound like that.

Hold on. Is this what I think it is?

Have I inflated his ego in any way? Is he trying to imply that I am bowled over by his appearance and I got distracted because of that?

Oh no! I better clarify.

I'd rather come out as a glutton than admit to a blind date that I find him attractive.

"Hey, it's not what you think. It's just that I didn't have my lunch and now I'm so hungry and that's why I couldn't concentrate. I know it was very disrespectful of me to do it. Sorry again." I speak without a pause. I feel like a thief who got caught red-handed.

"What? So, it's not what I thought?" He laughs.

"What did you think?"

"I will tell you. Before that, let's get some food."

"No, it's fine."

"Oh come on. Please order something for yourself. It's on me. Even if this doesn't work between us, I will have the satisfaction of buying food for a pretty girl," he says with a chuckle.

Wait. Did he say that he wants to pay for the food? That's so cool! 10 points for this guy just for this.

And did he call me 'pretty'? Wow. He probably said it to be polite. But I am on cloud nine now. Fifty more points for him.

As we wait for the biryani, I ask, "So, what did you think earlier?"

"Oh that. I-I thought maybe you weren't interested in the date," he says.

Well, he is right. I mean, yes, I wasn't interested when I came in. But how does he know about it? Strange.

"Why would you even think that?" I ask.

"Because I'm not very good at blind dates. It's never been my forte." Okay, now why is he stealing my dialogues? Shouldn't I be the one speaking like that after 119 dates?

"This probably doesn't make sense to you. But trust me, I have been on blind dates more than anyone else in this hotel," he adds.

Yet another dialogue of mine.

What is seriously wrong with this guy? Why is he trying to compete with me on my one unique prowess?

"Really? How many dates so far?" I ask, knowing full well that he is about to be defeated.

He lowers his voice and replies, "Twenty."

I cackle with laughter as soon as I hear that. This guy doesn't even know who he is dealing with. He is worried about twenty dates when I'm senior to him by a century.

Child.

"I-I know it's embarrassing. You don't have to laugh like that though." He looks really uncomfortable as he speaks. Poor thing.

I also get a gestural warning from mom and dad. Maybe I overdid it.

"Dude, I'm sorry. I didn't laugh at you. It's something about me," I say.

"Huh?"

"I suck at blind dates too. Actually, this is my 120th one."

"Don't lie."

"I promise. Trust me."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I'm so frustrated with it that like you said, I didn't even come here with an interest today. It's more like an act I'm doing for the sake of my parents."

"Same. I also came because my aunt forced me to but—" he pauses.

"But what?" I ask.

"I like you, Amelia. I don't know maybe this sounds insane. But I have never felt so comfortable with anyone like I did with you. Maybe you are still not interested but if you ever change your mind, please remember that I'm waiting for a second date."

My heart melts. His words sound so genuine. I don't know what comes over me but I dramatically respond with tears in my eyes as if Noah proposed to me.

"Yes! Yes! I like you too!"

I probably sounded very loud because now all eyes are on us. But I don't care.

It feels like I have finally found true love at blind date 120 and it's okay for the world to know it.

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This short story is written for a prompt by ChickLit for their celebration of 120k followers.

Hope you liked it 😁 Let me know your comments ♥️✨

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I will be publishing another one in December 🤗💫

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For those of you, who do not know what biryani is (a few of you had mentioned it previously in my other books too 😝), this is what it looks like 🤤 The taste of it is something that I cannot describe in words. If you have an Indian restaurant nearby, you need to order and try it right now!! 😍