"Luckily Yudhi didn't hear the comment. It would have been so embarrassing", Arohi thought.

She wanted to talk to Yudhi before leaving, so she approached him.

"Yudhi , do you have a second?"

"Yes Arohi, what's up?" Yudhi questioned

She pointed with her eyes, towards the garden, away from others and started walking.

Yudhi followed her. He started feeling tense.

"Since you are here now, I need your help."

"Sure, anything Arohi. I am here for you."

"You know .. how it is in college here. Everyone expects you to have a boyfriend. There is so much peer pressure and many of my batch mates keep asking me for a date as I am still without one. I don't believe in love and dating, and want to invest my whole time in becoming a good doctor. Now that we are close to finishing our term, I am facing pressure from some guys to accept dates, so I lied to them that I have a fiancée." She paused and looked into his eyes.

"Oh! The same way you lied to me about Paul ?" Yudhi was happy on one side that she was really into her studies and not into Western culture of dating, like he was afraid off, but on other hand he felt little sad hearing she doesn't believe in matters of heart.

"Well, I am sorry about the lie I told you about Paul, but I promise I will tell you the story behind it when the time comes. Now I need help from you."

"Ok Arohi, don't worry about it, I won't tell the truth about Paul to anyone. Looks like you promoted the non-existing Paul to fiancée from boyfriend, so I will tell the same if anyone asks."

"No, Paul is not the fiancée, you are . I told your name as you were not supposed to be here. Now that you are here, please play along with me. I already told mom about it."

"Oh! That is the reason your friends attacked me ?"

"No common! they were just having little fun. Please please.. help me, I will do anything in return."

"Ok, as long as your mom and dad are ok with it."

"Thanks Yudhi, I owe you one." See you tomorrow. Bye.

Arohi was happy that Yudhi agreed to play along, so now she need not worry about Raj talking to her parents or Yudhi and she can concentrate on having some fun.

Next day....

The school function was supposed to start at 3:00 PM. Arohi couldn't sleep well as she was excited about the day ahead and opportunities to spend some time with Yudhi. Kim and Karuna's boyfriends were also attending the function, so they were planning to go on a combined date. She was also participating in a cultural fashion show program at 4:00 PM, so she asked her mom to bring some jewelley and her favorite saree to wear for the program.

She met her parents and Yudhi for lunch.

"Arohi, we need to decide on few things now, so I need to know your schedule after your course finishes next month." Reena asked Arohi while they were going through the buffet and piling up their plates.

"Sure mom, we can talk."

"Why are you not eating anything ? Your plate is almost empty." Reena asked Arohi with a worried voice.

"Nothing mom, just a bit nervous, because of the fashion show." She quickly added.

"Common, it's a piece of cake for you. You did it before."Reena's eyes tried to pry behind Arohi's tension.

"Nothing ma, I will be fine." Arohi evaded her mom's prying eyes by attacking a piece of chicken with her fork.

"Ok, getting back to our topic, your cousin Padma is getting married next month and we all are planning to go to India for 2 weeks. How much vacation do you have before you have to join the intern program?"

"Wow! I have 4 weeks vacation, so I should be good. Mom,since we are going to India, there is a medical seminar in Bangalore, that I would like to attend for a week."

Arohi has been avoiding India because of Yudhi, but now she was all excited to visit and see all her cousins. And attending a marriage is like icing on a cake, so much fun.

"Sure, you can go for the seminar, but have to come alone back to US, as we will be coming back after two weeks." Reena said checking her calendar for dates.

"What about you Yudhi? We are planning for Tirupati trip before we return back to US." Arvind asked.

"I cannot make it to the marriage as I have an important seminar, but can probably join you guys for the Tirupati trip and then spend a week at home." Yudhi replied checking his schedule on his smartphone.

"Yudhi, since Arohi is extending her stay by a week and you are planning to stay after the Tirupati trip, can you both travel together onthe return journey."

Arohi looked to Yudhi – please say yes – pleading with her eyes.

"Sure Auntie, can do, no problem from my side." Yudhi answered looking into Arohi's eyes.

"Ok then, I will go ahead and book the tickets" Reena replied writing down the dates.

Arohi couldn't believe her ears. The day was turning out just fabulous. She gets to spend the day with Yudhi and also travelling alone with Yudhi – oh! all the past memories of them travelling together, gave her goose bumps all over her body.

After lunch all of them made it to the Main University auditorium, where the event was taking place.

Arvind, Reena and Yudhi went inside to find seats and Arohi went to join her friends and to get ready for her cultural show.

Arohi's show went very well. She dressed up as a South Indian bride, Kim dressed up as a Christian bride and Karuna as North Indian bride. At the end of their program, all the brides from different cultures did a song and dance together, depicting the different cultures they come from, but the common things the brides  look for in their grooms.

After the program, Arohi, Kim and Karuna came over to where Reena and Arvind were sitting. Arohi was still wearing the same saree she wore for the show, but she removed the jewellery and gave it to Reena.

"Hey, ask Yudhi to come and sit with us." Kim whispered to Arohi.

"No, sshh....forget about it." Arohi wanted to but felt shy to ask Yudhi.

"Auntie, do you mind if we take Yudhi along with us?" Kim asked Reena.

Arohi pinched her for doing that.

"Sure, Yudhi if you want to join them, go ahead."

Yudhi looked at Arohi, as he was not sure if she wanted him or not.

Seeing her blushing, he got up and followed them. "I will see you guys later." He told Reena and Arvind.

As they were going towards the student section to watch rest of the show with their friends, Kim looked around and noticed Raj watching them.

"Aru, hold Yudhi's hand" she nudged Arohi.

"Why?" Arohi whispered angrily.

"Raj is watching. If you want your fiancée story to hold water, better act it out." Kim gave her a gentle push towards Yudhi.

Arohi casually moved closer to Yudhi and linked her arm through his, putting her weight on him.

Yudhi froze for a second as his heart beat peaked and he almost stopped breathing till the electric shocks travelling through his veins subsided.

"Yudhi, remember the fiancée part, please bear with me."Arohi whispered in his ear.

"Oh sure! No problem." And he pulled her closer into him.

Though her words put a damper on his desires, his testosterone levels were still too high.

They joined Kim's and Karuna's boyfriends, who were already seated and Arohi introduced Yudhi to them. As she was introducing them, she found Raj sitting right behind them, but didn't introduce Yudhi to him leaving it to a later time.

As soon as they sat down, Yudhi took Arohi's hand and put it on his lap. Arohi didn't know whether to pull back or leave it there, but she left it on Yudhi's lap, as she was sure Raj was watching them and she didn't want to give him any reason to doubt their relationship.

Yudhi just wanted to test the boundaries of their fake relationship and at the same time make a stronger case for his love as he had no idea what kind of feelings Arohi has for him.

Though he knew she has feelings for him because of the various incidents that happened between them, she never acknowledged them or gave him a chance to make his case. So he decided to wait patiently till she is ready to accept his love.

Meanwhile she did acknowledge, that finishing her studies, as her top priority, so he wanted to help her and not be an obstacle to her studies and deal with the love part, once she comes home after finishing college.

Without his knowledge he started playing with her fingers while watching the shows being put by various group of students.

For Arohi, her body was on fire, as any contact with Yudhi makes her heart spin round and round. At the same time, she didn't want to act as if she is putting on a show for Raj, but she has no control over what Yudhi is doing to her hand.

Arohi felt like she was on a roller coaster as Yudhi continued playing with her hand. He started tracing her hand as if he was going to make a hand print on his thigh. Then he slowly lifted her hand and played with her ring, removing it and then putting it back multiple times and in between he would rub his ear or neck, bringing her hand into contact with his cheeks. Each time he did that Arohi had to control herself and regulate her breathing and stop funny noises from escaping her mouth.

Finally when he lifted her hand and put her index finger in his mouth between his teeth, she pulled back her hand. At the same time she saw Raj getting up and leaving the auditorium as he couldn't take it anymore. She felt bad for Raj, as it was not his fault. Anyone could have feelings for anyone, but Yudhi's actions, seems to have hurt him, though Yudhi was doing to amuse himself and not to hurt anyone.

She decided to talk to Raj later, so that there were no hard feelings. Though she lied to Raj about Yudhi being her fiancée, she knew it was close to truth and her heart was with Yudhi.

Finally the show was over and they all walked back to meet Arvind and Reena.

Kim whispered something into Arohi's ear and pushed her towards Reena.

"Mom, I need two favors if you are ok with it."

"Is it something to do with Yudhi ?"

"How do you know ?" she asked.

"I can see the mischief in your eyes. Where do you want to take him now?" she asked widening her eyebrows.

"We have an after party and all are going, so all my friends want Yudhi to attend." She said showing the gang.

"Hmm... ok, I can take that story."

"Really .. also I am thinking of having  a few drinks, as this is the final official party and everyone would be there and it is end of my school studies. I will be good though, just wanted to have some fun and Yudhi will be there to make sure I don't get into trouble. Please..." she put her puppy face out.

"Ok, but send Yudhi over here."

Arohi joined her friends and sent over Yudhi to talk to Reena.

"Yudhi, I don't know what sort of party these kids are having, but please take care of Arohi."

"Don't worry Auntie, I am not going to drink and will keep an eye on her all the time. I will make sure she gets home safely."

"Ok, go and have fun. Call me if need any help." Arvind patted his back.

Arvind and Reena stood there watching them go for the after party.

While going with her friends, Arohi was talking and moving her hands excitedly, when her heel slipped on the step and she was almost going to fall, when Yudhi who was walking by her side quickly put his hand around her and pulled her up straight.

She caught his shirt for balance and looked into his eyes as he was pulling her straight and he was looking into her eyes to make sure she understands that he has her firmly in his grip. It was an electric moment for both of them.

At the same time Arvind and Reena were watching them look at each other.

"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" Reena asked Arvind.

"Yes, they are faking the fake relationship. I hope they realize that. But you know we cannot interfere and push them into marriage without them understanding each other. We need to wait patiently for them to realize that and get over their ego's and work it out"

"Agree! They look so cute together, but I won't interfere."