Recap:

We were laughing hysterically, and weren't conscious of the fact that we were covered in flour, yogurt, mayonnaise, ketchup and eggs. And that the kitchen was ruined. The two bowls of cream and the spoons were scattered on the dirty floor.

We could have laughed for ever if it weren't for the words, "KIDS! What in the name of Lord is going on here?"

~~~

I looked up and saw Mr. McDonald staring down at us.

"Hi," I gulped, waving my hand a little.

"Mary is here, and the kitchen is ruined. Why am I not surprised?" he smiled.

"I'll take that as a compliment, Mr. McDonald," I smiled back.

"Hey, uncle. Where's dad?" asked Jamie.

"Where's mom?" asked Harvey.

"Both are in the living room," he gestured with his thumb. "I heard you laughing in here and decided to check if you needed any kind of treatment for mental illness."

We burst into laughter again.

"No thanks, dad," said Harvey.

"We'll live," added Jamie.

"Are you going to get up or not?" he asked, extending his hand towards me. I grabbed his hand and he pulled me up.

"Dad, don't tell mom. Okay," said Harvey, standing up.

"Your little secret is safe with me," he said. "But how will you explain the kitchen? And Sasha will be here to make lunch, any minute."

"Robbers?" suggested Harvey.

I rolled my eyes, "this is the best you can come up with?"

"What have you got?" he scowled.

"Clean up the kitchen first. Then sneak to the washroom when the coast is clear. Change clothes and go greet your mom," I said.

"Clean up the kitchen by ourselves?" asked Jamie, aghast.

"You don't know how to clean something?" I asked, annoyed.

'Spoilt rich brats,' I thought.

"Clearly, you do know how. So me and Jamie can go get changed, and you can clean up the kitchen. I'll tell my mom you were here looking to work as a maid. And then, you can just leave," Harvey said.

I opened my mouth to say something when Mr. McDonald interrupted me.

"Do you agree with him?" he asked Jamie.

"Yes, uncle," Jamie nodded.

Mr. McDonald glared at them, "Mary is staying for lunch. You both don't know how to clean the kitchen, it about time you learned. Mary, you can come with me, I'll show you to the washroom."

"I was joking, dad," whined Harvey.

"Me too," said Jamie.

"You were impolite to a lady," Mr. McDonald said, steering me to the door.

I smiled wickedly at them, before following Mr. McDonald out of the kitchen. I felt their eyes burning holes in my back.

"Lady, pah!" I heard Harvey scoff.

~~~

I had just come out of the washroom, after taking a quick shower, and was sitting in Harvey's room, going through his photo album. There were his photos of all ages. Most of them were with Jamie. They both were such cute little babies. Looked like angels. Sweet and innocent. Unlike the present.

I was going through his recent photos when I heard the door open. I quickly snapped the album shut, and sat straight.

"Looking at my photos?" he arched an eyebrow.

"Only the baby ones," I replied.

"Then you wouldn't have reacted like this," he smirked.

"I thought it was your father," I said, trying to cover up. "Has Sasha arrived?"

"Yes, and I asked her to make fried rice, your favourite," said Harvey.

I wanted to ask how did he know that fried rice was my favourite dish. But I didn't want to inflate his ego any further. Somehow, I also knew that his favourite food was pasta.

"What are you wearing?" suddenly Jamie asked, with a horrified expression on his face.

"I looked in the wardrobe and thought it would be okay," I said. "What is wrong with it?"

"It's Harvey's dirty shirt. And these jeans," he pointed, "I'm absolutely sure these are not washed."

"Nice try, but I won't fall for it," I said with a smug smile.

"No, really..." he started.

"Jamie," interrupted Harvey, "these are her own jeans. Only the shirt is mine."

"Oh," Jamie laughed. "Or else you would have fallen for the trick. And maybe even freaked out and taken..."

"Shut up! Don't you dare finish that sentence," I growled.

"Sorry," he raised his hands in mock surrender, winking at me.

Harvey smirked.

"You'd better go get changed. You both look dreadful," I said, annoyed.

Harvey scowled at me, and I smiled in return. He stomped off with his clothes.

"So," said Jamie. "What should we do till he returns?"

"Nothing," I said.

"Something, please. Anything you say," he begged.

"You won't argue?" I asked.

"Yes," he nodded.

"Let's breathe," I said.

He rolled his eyes at me. I started going through the album again. He sat down beside me.

"Can't you leave me in peace?" I asked rudely.

"Nope," he said.

"What do you want to do?" I asked.

"Play cards?" he asked.

I nodded. I love playing cards.

He took out a pack of cards and shuffled before dividing. We had just started playing, when Harvey came back from the shower.

Jamie left the game and went to pick out his clothes.

"Take Jamie's place," I said to Harvey.

"I was going to. But now, as you have told me to, without saying please, so it's a no," he said smirking.

I scowled at him.

"Say, 'dear Harvey. Play cards with me, please, with a cherry on top'," he smirked.

I picked up the cards and threw them at him.

"Ouch!" he exclaimed.

"Is poor mama's boy hurt? Will he go running to his mommy?" I said in a baby voice.

"You have gone mad," he said.

"I have not," I said, indignant.

"You are right, you haven't. You have gone madder than before," he said.

I rolled my eyes and left the room. I was descending the stairs, when I heard the door slam shut behind me.

~~~

Everyone was seated at the dining table. I was rubbing my hands with nervousness. I was mentally praying that nothing goes wrong.

The McDonald's already considered me a disaster magnet. I wanted them to know, that it was in the past, when I was a little girl. Now I have grown up and matured.

Harvey was sitting to my right, and Jamie to my left. Harvey's mom sat in front of me, across the table. Both the dads were sitting facing their sons.

"Have some soup, Mary," said Mrs. McDonald, as soon as Sasha brought the soup to the table.

I nodded and carefully picked up the ladle. I slowly filled it with soup, and bought it to the top of my bowl to pour it in. Suddenly, Harvey stretched his hand to grab a spoon and his elbow hit my arm in the process. All my carefulness got wasted and the soup spilled on to the table.

I smiled apologetically at Mrs. McDonald, and poured some more soup into my bowl. I looked at Harvey and saw him smirking. I mentally berated myself not to be careful of him. It wasn't actually astonishing that he did it on purpose. I brought down the heel of my foot on his toes and squished them. He coughed loudly, masking his painful exclamation. I hid my smile behind my spoon.

I sipped a bit of the soup, it was hot and was lacking salt.

"Can I have some salt?" I asked Mrs. McDonald.

She glanced at the table.

"Sasha, you forgot the salt and pepper," said Mrs. McDonald.

"I can't find the pots," she replied from the kitchen. "I am looking for them."

"Oh, I put them in the corner cabinet," said Jamie. "Wait, I'll go get them."

He sped off to the kitchen to get the pots. He came back and handed me the salt pot, and placed the pepper pot on the table. I added a good amount of salt in my soup, and some chopped green chilli. I started stirring the hot soup.

As soon as I placed the salt back on the table, Mr. McDonald extended his hand to pick it up. Harvey grabbed his father's hand. Mr. McDonald looked at him strangely. Jamie picked up the salt pot.

"Are you alright?" Mr. McDonald asked Harvey.

"I was... there's something on your hand," Harvey said, letting go.

Jamie added some salt to his soup and replaced the pot on the table.

"Where?" Mr. McDonald looked at his hand.

"Sorry, I must be mistaken," said Harvey.

Mr. McDonald picked up the salt pot and diverted his attention to his food.

When I felt that my soup had cooled enough, as not to burn my tongue, I filled my spoon and placed it in my mouth. It was disgusting. I could barely get it down my throat.

Instinctively, I placed my hand on my mouth, and forced myself to swallow. The sweet taste of the sugar, combined with green chilli, made the soup taste revolting. Jamie had brought sugar, instead of salt, by mistake.

I glanced up and saw that the three grown ups were eating their soup like it was normal to have sugar in it.

'Maybe they like sugar in their soup. No normal family have sugar in a salt pot.' I was confused.

"Mary, don't you like your soup?" asked Mr. McDonald. "And why is everybody so silent?"

I glanced at the two boys sitting next to me. They were eating their soup with innocent looks. Innocent looks equal trouble.

"Do you?" I asked Mr. McDonald.

"Of course, it's good," he replied.

"I'd like more salt," I said.

"Here," he handed me the salt pot. I quickly shook some in my palm to taste. It looked different, and it tasted like salt, not sugar.

Those jerks! They tricked me. And they had it all planned. Hiding the pots so that Jamie could go and bring an extra sugar one. Harvey stopped his dad from taking it, and Jamie switched the pots. Then their silence and innocent looks. I was mentally planning my revenge, and forced down another spoonful of the disgusting soup.

"Tastes better now?" asked Mr. McDonald.

"Yes, it's great," I said, smiling.

"Harvey, introduce your friend to uncle Rich," said Mr. McDonald. "I'm amazed three teenage class fellows having lunch together and there's pin drop silence."

"Uncle Rich, this is Mary, my class fellow and best friend," said Harvey. "Mary, this is uncle Richard, Jamie's dad, my favourite uncle."

"I'm your only uncle Harvey," he chuckled. "Mary, I've heard all about you, and today I must say, those weren't lies."

"You have? I mean, of course you have. We are best friends. Aren't we Harvey?" I slapped his arm forcefully, as if it was a friendly slap.

"Oh no. I meant Jamie. He told me all about you. Went on and on about you. Like how you..."

"Dad!" exclaimed Jamie.

"Sorry son," his dad chucked. "I won't say anything more."

It was a very awkward moment for me, and I fixed my eyes on my soup. Luckily, Mrs. McDonald changed the topic to school.

"Mary is a brilliant girl. She gets exceptional grades in everything," she told Jamie's dad.

"Thank you, Mrs. McDonald," I said.

"Dear, call me Linda," she said. "I'm not a fan of the name McDonald."

"Neither is Harvey," I said slyly.

His dad glared at him and he kicked me under the table. The conversation turned towards names. I finished the soup with great difficulty and pushed the bowl aside.

"Do you want some more?" asked Mr. McDonald.

"No, I'm fine," I said. I had to leave room for fried rice.

Sasha came and replaced the bowl of soup with a dish of fried rice.

"Mary, what are your future plans?" asked uncle Rich.

"I am going to study law," I replied, filling my plate with rice.

"Good choice, dear," he said appreciatively.

"Besides that, Mary intends to marry," said Harvey, smirking.

"That rhymed! And I've heard sentences that rhyme are actually true," said Jamie winking.

"What kind of guy would you want to marry?" asked Linda, oblivious of my discomfort.

I stuffed a spoonful of rice into my mouth, just to give myself time to think of a reply.

"I don't know," I stuttered. "I've never thought."

"Like what would you look for in a spouse?" she asked.

"Brown eyes," said Harvey instantly.

"No," I said. "Honesty, I guess."

"Is there anything in my son, that you would want to be in your future husband," asked Jamie's dad.

I was so embarrassed that I couldn't even reply.

'Say something idiot. They'll get the wrong idea,' I said to myself. 'What kind of adult asks such questions?'

"I don't know him well. I've only met him twice," I said, making sure to keep my eyes away from his.

"Tell about me," said Harvey.

I ignored him.

"Too perfect for words," Harvey said, nudging me.

"As if!" I rolled my eyes.

The adults laughed in response.

"Tell us about your secret admirer," said Harvey.

"I don't know what you are talking about," I said, now feeling really annoyed.

"Harvey. Don't make her uncomfortable," said Mr. McDonald.

"I bet she has great stories to tell," he said.

I was seething with anger. I picked up my fork and stabbed him repeatedly in his lap, under the table.

"Ow!" he exclaimed.

"What happened?" Linda asked.

"I think I pulled my muscle," he said and bent down.

He punched me, but punches just don't hurt on the legs. So I sat there calmly, eating my rice.

After everybody had eaten the rice, Sasha brought the dessert. It was chocolate pudding.

I picked up the salt pot, carefully, as not to let anybody see me. I unscrewed the lid, under the table. I emptied the salt into the palm of my right hand, and kept the empty pot in my lap.

As soon as Jamie started filling his plate with the pudding, I dropped my spoon down.

"Can you pick it up for me? It's on your side, Jamie," I said.

He bent down, and I quickly dropped the salt from my hand into his pudding, the back of my hand facing the adults so that they don't suspect anything. I quickly stirred the pudding to make it look normal. I glanced at Harvey. He had no idea that Jamie's pudding was sabotaged.

Jamie filled his plate with quite lot of pudding. Thank God I had added a huge amount of salt. He tasted the pudding and made a face. He looked at me and I smiled mischievously.

"Jamie, you have taken a lot of pudding. Will you be able to eat it all?" I asked innocently.

"Probably not. What should I do?" he asked, playing along with me.

"You should give half of it to Harvey. He hasn't filled his plate yet," I said and looked at Harvey in a questioning way.

"Sure," he shrugged.

I picked up Jamie's plate and transferred half of the pudding to Harvey's. The unsuspecting boy put a spoonful into his mouth. He gagged, and started choking.

"I've got this," I said to the adults and started slapping him on his back.

He forced his coughs to stop, in order to save himself from my hard slaps.

"Delicious pudding, Linda. I love chocolate pudding. It's just divine," I said. "Isn't it guys?" I glanced at them and smiled triumphantly.

They mumbled their replies. I kept eating my pudding, complementing it after every spoon.

"Thank you, Mary. I'm glad you like it so much," said Linda.

"You can come over any time you want," said Mr. McDonald. "And we'll ask Sasha to make it for you."

"Thank you," I smiled at him.

Jamie and Harvey both had second helpings of the pudding to get rid of the nasty taste.

"We are going to go upstairs now," said Harvey, pushing his empty plate and getting up.

"I really enjoyed having lunch with you," I said, also getting up. The empty salt pot fell from my lap, and rolled down the table. I just ignored it.

"It would be a memorable lunch," said uncle Rich.

"Oh you have no idea," Jamie said in a low voice so that only me and Harvey could hear.

"This day is going to get even more memorable," said Harvey and both the boys looked at each other and winked.

"Bring it on!" I whispered.

Author's note:

Hi guys, what's up?

A trailer is posted on the very beginning of the book.

A video is attached to this chapter. Showing what desi (Pakistani and Indian) aunties (all the ladies are called aunties even though there is no blood relation) do when you go to lunch or dinner. It's hilarious and true.

I'd like to thank my buddy @AimanShoaib for asking for an update. Or else I would have been too lazy.

Now for the best part. The mentions. I had to follow to mention.

khursheedah

RukkyAdams

SuccessReaderXX

volcanic_vicky

King_LionHeart

For the special mention, I would like to thank,

x_caster

For your hilarious comments. I loved reading them.

Don't forget to watch the trailer and the video in this chapter. And please do vote.

Bye guys. See ya!