“Bhabhi, I'm so scared! Mumma bhut gussa hogi. Aur papa ko kaise bolungi mai.”

“Ye sab jhoot bolne se pehle sochna tha.”

Advik said and Ananya whined.

“Bhaiya!”

“Arre relax! Mummy se baat kr. She'll handle papa.”

“Main problem toh wahi hai na. Thappad maregi mujhe.”

“Kaam toh waise thappad ke deserving hai.”

“Yaar bhaiya aap jaao yaha se. Support krne ki jagah dara rhe ho.”

“Jyada mat soch. Just go and tell her.”

Ananya took a deep breath and cornered her mother when she found her without her father. 

“Mumma! Wo na aapse kuch baat krni thi.”

She started in a coaxing tone. Her mother was busy watching the television and hummed.

“Aapko yaad hai maine bataya tha ki hamara publishing house ek bhut bade publishing house ke saath ek collaboration project kr raha hai?”

“Do mahine pehle se raag gaane shuru kr diye the. Abhi tak toh padosiyon ko bhi pata hoga.”

Her mother teased playfully while still watching TV and Ananya pouted.

“Aur aapko yaad hai maine bataya ki iss project ke kiye hamare office ki taraf se mujhe Team Head banaya hai?”

“Haan! Mera bachha sabse best hai.”

Now her mother got emotional and kissed her head. Ananya smiled. Ok! Maybe she wouldn't scold her that much now.

“Toh jo dusra office hai unki team ka bhi ek Team Head hai.”

“Obviously na Anu! Unko bhi tere under thodi na daalenge.”

Now she was back to teasing.

“Wo…mumma…actually baat ye hai ki maine jo…company tours aur dinner ke baare mai bola tha na…wo company tours aur dinner nhi the.”

“Hain? Gyi toh thi tu lekin.”

“Haan…wo mai…uss Team Head ke saath gyi thi. Akele.”

She added in a low voice.

“Matlab?”

“Matlab wo…”

And Ananya explained everything starting from the Delhi Tours to their first date.

“Ye kya chal raha hai Ananya? Tu-”

Her mother released a disappointed sigh and Ananya immediately held her hands.

“Mumma please gussa mat hona.”

“Gussa iss baat se nhi hu ki tu date pr gyi. Gussa iss baat se hu ki jooth bol kar gyi.”

Ananya kept quiet and lowered her head.

“Friday ko aa raha hai wo. Ek baat mil lo na please. Achha ladka hai mumma.”

“Wo toh tab hi dekhenge.”

“Aap please papa se baat kr lena.”

“Wo toh mai krungi hi. Pata toh chale unhe bhi.”

“Mumma aise nhi na please. Itne gusse mai nhi. Aaram se batana. Meri side lete huye.”

Her mother glared at her in response and Ananya knew her father was going to be difficult.

The next morning, she was very nervous to meet him at breakfast. Ananya didn't have a habit of having a hearty breakfast so she just had her toast and tea.

By the time she was finished, her father came out and he looked very serious.

“Ananya! Ye kya sun raha hu mai?”

Ananya bit her lip and lowered her lashes.

“Wo papa…”

“Ab humse jooth bolna shuru kr dia hai tune?”

He said in a hard tone and she bit her lip to control her tears. She could bear anything but her father raising his voice on her.

“Sorry papa.”

“Koi andaza hai kya ho skta tha. Ghar mai sabko jooth bol kr pura pura din ek anjaan ladke ke saath ghum rhi hai. Agar kuch kr deta toh hume toh khabar tak nhi lagti.”

“Papa wo actually mujhe pata tha.”

Chhaya intervened but lowered her head when her father's head snapped towards her.

“Aur aapne bhi kisi ko batana sahi nhi samjha? Uss ladke se personally mile ho aap? Nhi na! Phir! Kya guarantee hai ki wo achha ladka hai, achhe ghar se hai, kuch nhi pata hume.”

Chhaya too lowered her head and Ananya was on the verge of crying. Her eyes were getting blurry due to the tears. She knew she was wrong. She shouldn't have lied.

“Friday aa raha hai na wo. Tab dekhte hai usse. Ki hai kaun jo meri beti ko dates pr le jaa raha hai aur jiske liye meri beti mujhse jooth bol rhi hai.”

Advik held her father's hand and pointed towards Ananya who had her head lowered and they could make out that she was crying silently.

“Idhar aa!”

He called her forward and she walked towards him with her head still lowered. She stopped before him and he sighed pulling her into his arms. She burst out crying and said sorry again and again.

“Shh! Daant nhi raha hu lekin bhut naaraz hu ki tune jooth bola. Tum logo ko kabhi roka hai kya kuch krne se hume. Pehle bata deti toh mana nhi krte. Ye umar hai tumhari aur ye sab hota hai iss umar mai. Lekin apni safety toh apne haath mai na.”

Ananya nodded, understanding his point. She just hoped that Divesh was actually how he was showing himself in front of her. Or was she was in for a big heartbreak.

It was difficult facing Divesh the whole week after that. It felt like every second she was being tested. But finally, Friday arrived.

Divesh had messaged her in the morning confirming to her that the dinner was still on. She was really nervous.

“Kya hua bhai? 6 bje ka time diya tha. 6:45 ho gye hai. Kaha hai wo ladka?”

Her father asked and Ananya fidgeted with her fingers while looking at the entrance. 

“Mai…umm..mai puchhti hu …”

Just as she picked up her phone to call him, the doorbell rang and her snapped towards the door.

Advik opened the door and Ananya sighed in relief seeing Divesh standing there.

“Yes?”

Advik asked and Divesh smiled warmly.

“Hello sir. I'm Divesh Gupta. Umm…Ananya’s friend.”

“I'm Advik. Ananya's brother.”

“Tsk! Advik! Andar toh aane dijiye unhe.”

Chhaya reprimanded her husband's chivalry while greeting a guest and smiled warmly at Divesh.

“Hello mam.”

“What mam? Call me bhabhi. I'm Advik's wife and Ananya's bhabhi.”

“Hello bhabhi.”

He corrected and Chhaya asked him to enter inside.

He touched her parents feet and greeted them too.

“Umm…bhabhi ye mai sabke liye laaya tha. Sorry thodi der ho gyi iski wajah se.”

He said forwaring her the bag he was carrying.

“Arre iss sab ki kya zarurat thi.”

“Jyada kuch nhi hai. Bas kuch snacks aur meetha hai.”

“Impress krne ki koshish achhi hai. Pr kaam nhi kregi.”

Ananya's father said and Divesh looked at him with a small smile.

“Impress nhi kr rha sir. Mumma kehti hai ki kisi ke ghar pehli baar jaao toh khaali haath nhi jaana chahiye. Bas isliye le aaya.”

Her father looked away and Divesh finally looked at Ananya. He smiled and the emotion in his eyes made her eyes pool with tears.