"What do you mean I'll have to learn how to cook?" Anju shouted from across the hall.

I flinched in spite of expecting her ire. Things are definitely not going as planned.

"I told you not to get angry" I reminded my words from before starting the conversation.

She pinched her lips into a thin line "I am not angry"

"Why would I be angry? It's not like I hate cooking" she added sarcastically.

"You don't hate cooking. You hate that it's one thing you can't seem to grasp no matter how much you tried"

She glared at me but replied "It's not like I want to do it, either"

"But you have to eat. Don't you?" I said in a teasing tone.

"I can order" she said with a roll of her eyes.

"Yes, if you want to spend all your hard earned money on food"

She scowled but relented on her stubbornness after a moment's thought "Fine. You have a point! But I have Anusha who loves to cook"

"You can't be sure about that. We don't know when she will return to India for her marriage" I pointed out.

Fortunately, things worked out well between Sanketh and Anusha. The cousins have apparently admitted their feelings for each other ending their five year long feud.

Their families have gotten together and proceeded with their engagement promptly.

Anju was thrilled upon hearing the news but remained tight lipped about her part in it; her screaming with excitement, into her phone, reminding me how much she changed.

"I wish she'd come while I am still here" she said wistfully.

I smiled tightly unable to turnaround the conversation to her upcoming departure. We still have ten days left and all I can think of, is how much I am going to miss her when she leaves me again.

"But you are right. I should learn cooking. The only reason I survived without burning a hole in my pocket, is Anusha" Anju agreed grudgingly.

"Now, now. Don't sulk already. I am yet to start teaching you" I replied cheerfully but she didn't look happy.

We began with the simple task of chopping vegetables which didn't seem so simple an hour later. Harvesting the vegetables from scratch would take lesser time, I joked only to be at the receiving end of Anju's scowls. Multiple times.

By evening, there is some progress. Anju managed to learn the precision of cuts required for different kinds of vegetables and curries.

"Oh My God" Auntie's shriek of surprise when she arrived home made me feel guilty as I looked around the mess we made in her kitchen.

"I am so sorry. We will clean everything by the time you freshen up" I added quickly, wondering how she'd react when she learns we ruined every vegetable in the refrigerator.

"You are teaching her how to cook?" she remarked, her expression a mixture of joy and shock.

"She wanted to learn" I lied, only to be busted by Anjali's disbelieving snort.

Her mother chuckled at my expense, running her eyes all over the counter before settling her gaze back at me "You are aiming for the impossible, Vamsi. But, my best wishes to you"

Anju scowled at her mother while I laughed "Do you mean I'm useless at cooking?"

Auntie raised an eyebrow "Isn't that obvious?"

"Is that a challenge?"

"Oh, I don't think so. A challenge can't be one-sided" she replied offhandedly.

Ahhhhhhhhh! I see what's happening here. Auntie is deliberately goading Anju's temper fully knowing it will make her want to prove her mother wrong.

"We will see when I cook an entire meal on my own" Anju replied sweetly.

"Very likely to happen" Her parting statement only adding fuel to Anju's anger.

"What are you smiling at?" Anju scowled, turning her ire onto me.

I raised my hands in surrender "I just enjoyed watching you two argue back and forth. I can't seem to decide who to cheer for"

She glared "You can't decide? I am your best friend"

I tsked impatiently "Your best friend? Now, I made up my mind to take my best friend's mother's side"

Her glare turned into a pseudo smile as she said sweetly "How about girlfriend? You don't want her to lose to her mother. Do you?"

"Hmm" I said, pretending to think when she pinched my elbow "Ouch"

"You are enjoying this way too much"

I smirked "What do I get if I helped you?"

She twirled around, exclaiming "Tada! Me!"

"You look ridiculous" I said biting my lip to stop myself from laughing out loud at her "Besides, I already have you"

"Did you just call me ridiculous?" she said, pushing me against the wall opposite to the counter.

"What if I did?" I provoked, enjoying the spark in her eyes.

She frowned "You seem to be enjoying this"

"What if I am?" I smirked, my arms going around her waist and her eyes widened, suddenly noticing the position we are in.

My hold on her tightened as she tried to get away, her eyes looking past me in worry "Do you know what happens if my mother sees us like this?"

I nodded "Your mother will become my mother in law"

She looked at me in astonishment before bursting into laughter "You are being awfully cheeky today. And gutsy"

"I am that" I added smugly.

At the sound of a bike's engine shut off, she looked at me with a grin "You ready to face Nanna like this?"

Understanding the reason behind her sudden amusement, I quickly released her and cowered to the farthest corner of the room.

She laughed at my swift action while I muttered dully "He will have my head on a platter"

"Nanna! I am here" she shouted, seeking her father on purpose while I silently cursed.

"What are you doing in----- What the hell!"

"Vamsi is teaching me cooking" she replied quickly, staring at my reaction with glee.

"S-starting today" I added, throwing a glare in her direction.

"I did not know cooking makes kitchen look like a dumpster" He said turning away and out.

"Coward" She mouthed to me.

"We will clean it in no time" I said to his retreating back and turned to glare at my supposedly best friend.

"Do you plan on getting me killed?"

She chuckled "Don't worry. Nothing is going to happen"

"Easy for you to say when both of my parents love you" I muttered childishly, picking up the trash to start the arduous process of making the kitchen spotless again.

"Anyway, good luck with your-----"

I grabbed her hand before she can run away from the mess she made "Uh-huh. Not so easy, babe. You're not going anywhere until I said so"

She groaned trying to get away from my grip "But I am tired with all the work you made me do"

"No, you're not"

"I am not used to working in the kitchen" she puckered up her lips in an attempt to pout but failed miserably.

I grinned at her antics "Who taught you how to act cute?"

"I'm not acting" she glared.

"Uh-huh. I bet my money on those three girls you often talk of. Besides, aren't you the expert at cleaning?" I raised an eyebrow, reminding her of her own words from few weeks ago.

"Fine!" she stopped fidgeting, finally accepting her fate.

Smiling to myself and enjoying this new side of her, we silently worked around each other.

Fifteen minutes later, the room is almost back to its former glory as we dumped the last remnants of potato peel in the trash can.

"I'm going to take a shower!" She announced throwing a glare in my direction.

"You and bath? Second time in a day? Are you alright?" I said, touching her forehead in a mock attempt to check her body temperature.

She slapped my hand away with her signature scowl "You made me dirty"

"I did. Didn't I ?" I grinned, crossing my arms over my chest.

She sighed, all seriousness gone, gazing at me with an infatuated look "You should stop doing that"

"Doing what?"

"Giving me a heart attack. Looking so damn irresistible" The second part almost sounded like a complaint.

I chuckled "Do I?"

"You don't know?" She said, backing me against the wall separating the kitchen and the dining.

I shook my head "No one's ever told me"

"May be they are not half blind like me" she said, with the usual teasing tone I have heard all my life.

"Ouch. What you do to a man's ego!"

"Well, someone has to-------"

I only meant to silence her with a kiss but in no time, it turned into a clash of limbs and lips. Her fingers twisted in my hair while mine ran along the length of her spine. Her lips never left mine as her hands roamed down my back before settling around my waist.

She moaned into my mouth fueling my need to touch her bare skin, not at all helping with the warning signs going off in my head.

It isn't until my fingers played with her bra strap did I realize not only did I manage to get my hands underneath her shirt, Anju is doing some touching of her own.

That thought brought a chuckle out of me and she pulled back from my lips with a frown, still rubbing circles on my back absentmindedly.

Somehow, God knows how, I managed to disentangle myself from her arms as the fog inside my head cleared.

Did we just make out without a care in the world with her parents only a few feet away? Yep.

"What happened?" Anju panted, trying to get hold of me while I stepped back and out of her reach.

"We could have gotten caught" I whispered, stunned by what just happened.

With her head resting against the wall, she closed her eyes trying to even out her breath. I did the same while my gaze settled on her lips.

"You are bleeding" I commented and she opened her eyes instantly.

When I pointed at her mouth, she looked astonished as she licked her lips tasting her own blood "You bit me!"

An involuntary chuckle escaped my lips "I am sorry"

She narrowed her gaze "No, you are not"

I agreed with a smile "No, I am not"

She sighed as a playful smile touched her lips "I can't believe this"

Before I can reply, her mother's voice sounded from her bedroom "Are you kids done?"

We looked at each other in panic when Anju spoke in a whisper "You look odd and I don't have to look in the mirror to guess how I am. Go wash your face and straighten your hair"

"You look thoroughly kissed. That's how you look" Giving her a quick kiss, I turned the faucet at kitchen sink to do as instructed.

A second later, I heard Anju shout "Five minutes, Amma"

We crept out of the room and into the living where her father rested on the sofa with his head in his cell phone as the TV played.

Anju silently crossed the room with her head bowed and into her room murmuring about taking a shower while I took the seat beside her father.

"Are you done?" His sudden comment made my heart race.

"W-what?"

He frowned "Are you done teaching her?"

"Y-Yes"

"You're doing good. Though I have no idea how you made her agree"

I chuckled "She listens to me"

To his raised eyebrows, I added with a shrug "Sometimes"

"I see you are still sneaking into her room at nights"

"Ah--- Um yeah. I seem to sleep well on her bed"

"Did you not see a doctor?"

Not since I realized it to be more of a symptom of lovesickness.

I shook my head.

"Guess you have to find a way to sleep on her bed for the rest of your life" He murmured before leaping out of the sofa. Or that's what I think I heard as I stared at his back, totally and utterly stunned.

A slow smile stretched on my lips as I realized the meaning behind his offhanded statement.

No, he doesn't hate me at all.

However, the thought of what almost happened did not leave my mind as I went back to my room, showered, changed and returned to Anju's house for dinner.

Her father or mother could have chanced upon us while we were lost in each other and the trust built over years would all have been lost in a matter of seconds.

Though I no longer doubt the possibility of her parents accepting me with open arms, finding their daughter in a compromising position might flip my chances of being accepted wholeheartedly.

How did I let things go out of control?

I can't take any chances further that'd make them doubt my intentions about her. They need to be able to trust me; with their daughter.

"Is the food not to your liking?" Anju's mother commented and following her line of vision found my fingers drawing circles on the plate.

"No, it's good" I replied, offering a smile "My thoughts were elsewhere"

Anju looked concerned but didn't say a word until calling it a day.

Giving me a signal to hurry, she rushed into her room while I perched on the seat beside her father.

"Something troubling you?"

Her father's concerned frown made me smile tentatively "Nothing important"

He nodded returning his attention back to news. Before leaving for bed, he noted calmly "Don't worry about things that are out of your hands. What has to happen will happen anyway"

I managed to smile in understanding and appreciating what he's doing. It's nice of him to offer advice without forcing me to reveal my troubles.

When I reached Anju's room, she sat up impatiently upon seeing me "What took you so long?"

"I stayed until your father retired to bed"

Contrary to my assumptions of shooting me with questions, she remained calm observing me with unnerving silence.

"I feel guilty for keeping your parents in the dark about us and for taking advantage of you" I confessed finally.

She nodded thoughtfully "Of course you should; for defiling an innocent girl like me"

The bottom dropped out of my stomach as I gazed at her in shock "That's not what you're supposed to say"

A devilish gleam entered her eyes as she said "But you won't be convinced if I said it's not your fault and I am an equal and consenting partner in everything"

I groaned "What if your mother saw us like that? Or worse your father?"

"You think my dad won't understand that I am an adult capable of making my own decisions?"

"No. But it isn't as simple as you make it seem, Anju"

"May be not but I can assure you one thing. No matter what happens or how they find us, my parents won't jump into conclusions or make wild accusations without hearing us out first"

"I know but they trust me. Or did. I broke it once before and I'm doing it again. Now"

She frowned in confusion "When did you break their trust?"

"What?"

"You said you broke their trust. When?"

Shit. I never told her about the kiss, did I?

The prospect of revealing something that happened a life time ago, without her consent, suddenly made me feel nervous and awkward.

She'd be mad at me. For sure. But I can't lie to her.

Clearing my throat, I began uncertainly "It happened long time ago and—eh--- you weren't aware of it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have----- I was an idiot. I did not------"

"What happened?" She shouted impatiently.

"Kiss" I whispered guiltily.

She narrowed her eyes "What kiss?"

I scratched my neck absentmindedly not knowing how to start when she screamed again "What kiss?"

"I kissed you while you were sleeping. I'm so sorry. I knew it was wrong and I realized my mistake almost immediately but I was a stupid, horny teenager who was in love with his best friend" I rushed out in hurry.

Her eyes widened in surprise "What?"

"I'm so sorry for breaking your trust. I felt guilty for the longest time but it made me realize that you're too important for me to lose you as a friend. I'm sorry for hiding this from you"

I waited in bated breath for her response. After what felt like an eternity, a smile touched her face and she looked at me in wonder "When did this happen?"

"Ten years ago"

She looked lost in thoughts but did not say a word.

"Are you not angry?" I asked tentatively.

"For what?"

"Kissing you?"

She shook her head in response before a frown settled between her eyebrows "However I'm not happy you hid it for so long. It would have saved me lot of heartache and guilt"

"What guilt?"

She looked embarrassed, looking anywhere but me "I kissed you back. Didn't I?"

"Yes. But you were sleeping"

"I though it was a dream" she said, lowering her head.

Now, I am the one confused "What do you mean?"

She explained about her recurring dreams since then and how she felt guilty every time and embarrassed to face me the following morning.

"Why did you never tell me this?"

She glared at my accusatory tone "For the same reason you didn't"

I stared at her in surprise before bursting into bouts of laughter "We are a bunch of idiots. Aren't we?"

"Speak for yourself" Anju's teasing tone made me grab her into my arms.

"Oh, really? Why didn't you say anything then? Instead of hiding from me?"

She regarded me like a fool "And what would I say? 'Vamsi, I have been dreaming about kissing you. Do you know why?' Who knows how you'd react?"

"I'd have kissed you for real" I said, tossing her on to bed before following her promptly.

My hesitation must have showed on my face as she spoke with a knowing smile "You should get off me if you're not going to kiss me"

With a sigh, I landed on my back staring at the ceiling and trying to re-organize my thoughts.

"Vanilla" she said suddenly.

"What?" I turned to my side, facing her.

"You tasted like Vanilla that day" She replied, her eyes dancing with mirth.

"I had vanilla ice cream from your fridge when I couldn't find any snacks in the kitchen"

"Oh. If only I remembered" she said sulkily.

I chuckled before a thought crossed my mind "Anju..."

"Hmm?"

"Do you mind if I put a pillow between us?"

"What?"

I repeated again.

"Are you kidding me?" she cried out, getting up to sit on the bed.

I sighed heavily. Guess that's a no.

"Why are you even here if you want a pillow between us?"

"I'd want to hold you if there's no barrier" I replied blankly placing the pillow under my head between us.

She glared at me but flopped on her side of the bed, with her back to me murmuring to herself "I can't believe I showered a second time for this"

Her words took a moment to register and a smile stretched on my face at the new opportunity to tease her "You showered for me? For what?"

"I did not" she said irately.

"I heard it. Clearly"

She turned to scowl at me "Then you heard it wrong"

I chuckled "Liar"

She glared but otherwise shut her mouth and planted her face on her pillow.

"Are you mad at me?"

She growled making me smile yet again.

"Why are you mad at me?"

"Because you are stupid"

"How?"

Turning her head in my direction, she replied "Because it's not guilt that's troubling you but fear"

"Fear of what?"

"Losing me. You think my parents will drive us apart or disapprove if they know we have been hiding things from them. That's fear, not guilt"

Her words didn't make complete sense but she was right about one thing "Until today evening, I thought your father hated me"

"Told you, you're stupid"

I sighed not knowing how to explain my thoughts. Brushing them aside and the damn pillow, I pulled her to my side.

"What are you doing?" She yelped in surprise.

"What do you think?"

She sighed against my neck wrapping an arm around my waist "You won't see me complain again about holding me tight"

"Now tell me"

"About what?"

"About the part where you mentioned showering for me?"

She groaned first but then pulled back with a wicked smile repeating my earlier words "What do you think?"

I grinned "I can think of a lot of things"

"I wanted to smell good" Her smile turned into a look of embarrassment when she said "We have been working in the kitchen since morning and---"

"You always smell good though" I said, wrapping my arm around her when I suddenly remembered what's in my pockets.

"I forgot about this" I said placing the Vaseline balm on her palm that I purchased on the way back.

She observed the tube in her hand "Is this for my lips?"

"I'm sorry that I'm not sorry" I said, offering a sly smile.

She grinned "Thank you. But before I take it, can I do,"

Lifting herself off of me, she placed a kiss on my hairline "This?"

I smiled "Yes, mam."

"And this?" she said, kissing between my eyebrows.

"Yes mam"

She kissed my nose "This?"

"Yes mam"

Then came my cheeks "This?"

"Yes mam"

Gazing into my eyes, she rubbed my cheeks with her fingertips "How about---?"

"Please" I said raising my lips to meet hers.

----

Thank you for reading. Vote, Comment and Share if you like this chap.

As Anju is trying her hand in cooking, I resumed cooking recently after a long hiatus. I made chana masala for the first time today and it turned out so good. I realized recently that I only eat for the sake of curbing my hunger and I need to eat healthy. Too late for a new year resolution but working on it, definitely.

I don't know if I haven't been able to write new chapters because I couldn't divert enough time to write or because I am scared it meant the book would end.

Four more chapters and it will be the end of Anjali and Vamsi. I'm not ready to say good bye but I know I have to. 

However, the chapters will be longer than the previous ones. 

Also, thank you everyone for patiently waiting for my updates and understanding me.

Have a great weekend.

- JANAKI