***Piya's POV.***

"Do you have to go, Piya?" Nanu asks as I touch his feet.

"Yes." I say.

"I am going to miss your cooking. It was a pleasant change." Nanu says, and Nani glares at him.

"But he is right. Come again soon. Okay?" Nani says and kisses my forehead.

"I will." I say.

"And call me when you reach home." Nanu says and I nod.

"Also send me pictures from your trip." Nanu says and I nod again.

"Okay, I will. But can I go now?" I ask and they shake their head in no.

I chuckle and hug them both. Then sit inside the cab. I wave at them as it drives towards the bus station. When I reach there, I take my seat and enjoy the journey as I listen to the music. Yes, sad songs. The only way I could get over the feelings which I still can not let go of. But I am trying my best.

After what happened, I couldn't face Veer, so I thought about taking a break and told my parents that I want to visit Nani and Nanu and would check on them for Maa. At first they were surprised but then they agreed as they have other things to look after.

My parents are going to leave for New York two days later and I will go on the trip four days later. So Maa and I will go shopping tomorrow. And as we won't be meeting for a month, I have to talk with them about my future plans which I will do tomorrow night.

I reach home at seven and Nitu opens the door for me and asks, "How was the visit?"

"Very good and relaxing. You will love it there." I say.

"I am looking forward to it." Nitu says.

We are sending Nitu to Dharamshala to my grandparents as we won't be home and they would need her help more. I go to my room and put away my clothes first, then get changed. Then I crash on the bed to take a breather. But then I get bombarded with the memories and their pain.

I get up and go down. Things are hard, but I try to push them away as much as I can. At least until I get out of this place. This is my home but now I feel suffocated here not because of my family but because of the stupid memories which keep bothering me.

Nitu was heating some milk for me when I entered the kitchen and looked at what we had. She asks me to rest, but I tell her that I want to cook something good for them all. I take out all the ingredients.

"Hmm... What to make?" I ask myself, then an idea pops into my head and I start cooking.

I make some plain rice first, then I boil the water and put spinach in it, then I wash it in the cold water. After that is done, I chop it and grind it. Then I fry it with rice, chopped vegetables and spices. After Palak Pulao is ready, I look at the time to see only 35 minutes have passed by. So I sigh and start making another dish.

"What are you doing, Piya?" Maa asks as soon as I look up after making the fifth dish, Baingan Bhaja.

"I think she is trying to bring the whole of India here through her cooking." Papa says and takes a bite of Khandvi, "Hmm.. So soft."

"Thanks." I say.

"What's the special occasion?" Maa asks.

"Nothing. I just felt like it and was feeling too bored." I say and give them other dishes.

"Gatte ki sabzi. Where is roti?" Papa asks.

"Stop it, Dhruv. First get change then eat." Maa says, and he nods but he doesn't leave without getting a taste. Then she looks at me and asks again, "Now tell me. What is going on?"

"Exactly what I said. Taste this." I say and make her taste some pav bhaji.

"It is so good." She says and forgets all about my crazy cooking.

Benefits of being a superb cook.

By the time I was done, I was so tired that I slept fitfully without getting disturbed by my feelings again and as soon as morning came; I hurried out of my room and had leftovers for breakfast with my family. Then again started making lunch and helping Maa out so we can go out as soon as possible.

It was after we came back from shopping and had a wonderful dinner. We were enjoying the hot chocolate tiramisu, and I knew it was time to break the news to my parents. I put the plate down on the table and took a deep breath.

"Maa, Papa, I wanna tell you something important." I say.

"Okay." Papa says, still lost in the dessert.

"Go ahead." Maa says as she is looking at her phone.

They are giving me all their attention.I shake my head then say, "I have decided to go to France for further studies."

They look up at me in an instant. But for a few seconds there is a silence and I can't make out from the blank look on their faces what they are thinking.

"Where are you applying? And for what exactly?" Papa asks.

"It is a university for culinary arts and business. They actually invited me when I won that prize last year in Delhi, but I told them I would need time. When I asked them last week, they told me they will keep a seat open for me for November intake. I want to learn more about cooking and how to run a business in the same line." I say.

"Okay. So you have to leave in November?" Papa asks.

"No. In January." I say.

"What about fees? Do you need-" Maa goes to say and I shake my head.

"No need for that. It is a fully funded program and they will also help me find an apartment if I don't want to stay in a hostel. I just need to pay rent and look out for my daily personal expenses. And if I do well, I can even have a year's opportunity to travel all over Europe to teach and also to cook in famous restaurants." I say, and Papa's eyes light up with delight at the last sentence.

"Really? That's great. You will get a chance to fulfill your dream." Papa says with a proud smile.

"How do you know?" I ask with a frown.

"Come on, Piya. I will never forget anything that my daughter says. Not even the dream she talked about when she made her first dish. The cute look on your face is imprinted here, in my mind. "Papa, I will make all kinds of dishes for you after I have roamed the world. It is my dream." I would not be a father if I forget that promise of yours." Papa says and my eyes fill up with tears, but I control them and look at Maa.

"What about you, Maa?" I ask her and she looks at me with a blank look.

"We have funds for you." Maa says.

"I won't need it, Maa, as I have saved up enough and will work there to get any money I need." I say.

"Let me finish." She says, showing me her hand, and I nod. "We have funds for you for this dream only. So for some time, forget about working and earning money. Just enjoy the experience. Otherwise, you aren't going anywhere."

"Maa..." I say and get up and hug her.

"What about me?" Papa asks, and I stretch one arm out to invite him for a hug.

"We are always there for you, Piya. You are the best daughter of ours, who has always been obedient, caring, and dutiful. We never said this before, but we should have said that we will always support you, no matter what. Whatever you decide, we will stand by your decision." Maa says.

"Thank you." I whimper.

"It must have been tough for you to decide this. To leave us. But, dear, don't feel guilty, not even for a second. Because when you go there to pursue your dreams, you will be pursuing our dream too." Papa says as he wipes off my tears.

"What dream, Papa?" I ask.

"Being happy. Parents want nothing more than their child's happiness and when you are happy, we will be happy too." Papa says.

"Yes. So enjoy yourself and forget about everything except for calling us every day." Maa says, and I chuckle.

"I love you both so much. I am the luckiest daughter ever to have such great parents." As I say that, I hold them tighter in my arms.

Later that night, as I help them in packing in their room, Papa is busy watching his favorite show outside after packing his. Maa looked at me every once and now and I think she wants to say something. So when we are done, I bring hot cocoa for us both and sit on the balcony.

"What is it, Maa? Do you wanna say something?" I ask.

"Yes." She says.

"Okay. Go ahead." I say.

She looks up and smiles, "Do you love Veer?"

I sit up straight but smile and ask, "What are you talking about?"

"Exactly what I asked. You love Veer, right?" She asks again.

"How do you know?" I ask.

"Because I am your mother." She says and I sigh.

"No. How did you actually know?" I ask again.

"Your eyes told me. They are very expressive when you are either very happy or very sad." She says, "So tell me, do you love Veer?"

"I can't hide anything from you, huh?" I scoff and sigh, "Yes, I loved him."

"Don't lie." Maa says.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"You know exactly what I mean." She says and I sigh.

"Fine. I still love him, but it is of no use. He doesn't love me, so there is no point to this anymore, Maa. So, can we just stop talking about this topic?" I ask and look away in the distance.

"Did Veer say he doesn't love you directly?" Maa asks.

"Not exactly. But he did say he can't just like me, as I am his best friend when he was drunk." I say.

"Okay." She says, "So are you sure you don't want him to know about your feelings before you leave?"

"Why should he when there is no point doing this?" I ask in confusion.

"Who said there isn't? Piya, you have to tell him how you feel." Maa says and I frown.

"No. Why would I do that?" I ask.

"For your sake." Maa says.

"I don't understand." I say.

She takes my hand in hers and says, "Listen carefully, dear. I don't know what happened between you both fully, but I do know what you will do. You will suppress your feelings and try to avoid it at any cost, which will not help you at all. Instead, it will make you a bitter person."

"How can you say that, Maa?" I ask with a frown.

"Because I have seen it happening once with my own eyes, dear. I know you wouldn't want to be, but the frustrations in you would make you do stupid things. So tell him everything. Tell Veer how you feel about him. Speak up and let go of these emotions. Then only you will be able to move past all of these things. Otherwise you will be burdened by it for a lifetime." Maa says.

"And in return, I hurt Veer, the person I love?" I ask.

"You will hurt him more by ignoring him and doubting his friendship." Maa says.

"It would break our friendship and he would leave me." I say.

"Do you really think Veer would leave your side? No chance. He loves you even if it is as a friend and he has always been there for you. But if you don't tell him, you will hurt him by your actions because I know you will try to avoid him and that poor boy won't even know what is happening. So tell him everything, Piya. Even if it means being selfish, just do it because that way your heart would feel free and you won't feel suffocated anymore." Maa says and I look at her with wide eyes.

That night I can't sleep again and keep thinking about what Maa suggested to me. She isn't wrong. When Priya Masi tried to go through everything alone and kept everything inside her, she not only hurt herself but also people around her too. She wasn't a bad person, but the situation at that time was bad.

"Maybe Maa isn't wrong. But I don't think I am gutsy enough to do this. Still, I will try my best." I say to myself.