Six months had passed since they graduated. Nandini was now working as a Junior Counsellor at a well-known hospital, while Dev had got a job as an HR analyst for a big corporate firm, using his Psychology background to read people before they were hired.

They met each other almost every week, taking out time between their busy schedules. Dev's mother already liked Nandini and sent her homemade food.

Nandini's mother knew about her daughter being in love, but her father, who still saw Nandini like a little girl, was completely unaware. Or so she thought.

One evening, Dev had picked her up after work. He drove them to a rooftop restaurant. As they sat down, Nandini adjusted the pleats of her satin saree.

Dev couldn't help but look at her every two minutes the entire ride and now as she sat directly across him, he couldn't move his eyes away.

"You look really beautiful today. Why the saree though? Kuch special tha?"

(Was there something special?)

Nandini's ears turned pink at the compliment.

"Chhota sa event tha. But why are we here, Dev? This is a really expensive restaurant. Salary aay hai toh uda rhe ho yaha?"

(There was a small event….You are spending when you’ve received salary?)

Dev leaned forward, crossing his arms on the table. His eyes full of mischief but an intensity that made her shiver.

"Salary toh har mahine aayegi. Phir kabhi bacha lenge. Par aaj kuch special hona chahiye tha na."

(Salary will come each month. Will save some time later. But today had to be special.)

The way he said those words, with a hidden meaning, made her heart race in anticipation. He reached across the table,  firmly interlacing his fingers with hers.

"We've known each other for the past one year now. I've experienced everything, every side of yours. Your anger, your wit, your cute strawberry blush, your vulnerability and your honesty. And I found each side equally fascinating."

Nandini's heart started beating wildly. She tried to pull her hand back, suddenly feeling shy, but he held on, his grip warm and steady.

"Dev...log dekh rhe hai."

(Dev…people are looking.)

She whispered even though no one was really looking. He smiled and caressed her knuckles.

"Dekhne do."

(Let them.)

He said, his voice dropping low.

"I've been the nonchalance king all my life. Par tumhare saamne aate hi saari coolness, sara composure evaporate ho jaata hai. I don't want to be your 'not boyfriend' anymore, Nandini."

(All my coolness, all my composure evaporates when I come before you.)

He looked directly into her eyes, the playfulness replaced by a raw, beautiful sincerity.

"I love you, Nandini. Main tumhare saath apni puri life ki case study likhna chahta hoon. Will you let me?"

(I want to write the case study of my life with you.)

Nandini felt the breath leave her lungs. For a girl who always had a comeback, she was suddenly a blank page. Her vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears.

"I...I love you too, Dev."

Dev's grin returned, wider and more triumphant than ever.

"Now that the word is out...I think I should meet your father."

Nandini's smile froze.

"P-papa? Abhi?"

(Now?)

"Haan. Abhi. I'm done with playing around. I'm serious about this, Nandini. And I want to meet him."

(Yes. Now.)

An hour later, he was standing in front of her house. He was dropping her home and decided to introduce himself to her father. 

Dev, who was usually so cool and nonchalant, was adjusting his collar for the tenth time already. His palms were sweating.

"Dev...tum kaanp rhe ho."

(Dev…you’re trembling.)

Nandini whispered, giggling as she rang the doorbell.

"Kaanp nhi raha...bas...tumhare papa major the? Tumne bataya nhi wo army mai the? Agar unhone mujhe goli maar di toh?"

(I am not trembling…just…your father was a major? You didn’t tell me he was in the army? What if he shoots me?)

Before Nandini could ask him to relax, the door was thrown open. Nandini's father opened it and looked at her with a smile, which soon vanished when he saw Dev standing beside her.

"N-namaste uncle."

(H-hello uncle.)

Dev squeaked. Nandini suppressed a laugh.

"Kaun ho tum? Aur meri beti ke saath kya kr rhe ho?"

(Who are you? And what are you doing with my daughter?)

Her father asked, pulling Nandini a little to his side in protection.

"Papa ye Dev hai. Mera..."

(Papa this is Dev. My…)

She fumbled, looking at him for help. Did he want her to introduce him as her boyfriend already or he wanted some time?

"Partner hu uncle!"

(I am her partner uncle!)

He spoke suddenly and then started clarifying when her father raised an eyebrow in question.

"I mean...project partner. I mean...hum saath mai kaam..mera matlab...mai...iske saath..."

(I mean…we work together…I mean…I…with her…)

Dev was fumbling. The man who would destroy a candidate during an interview, was struggling to form a simple sentence in front of the father of the woman he loved.

"Andar aao!"

(Come inside!)

Her father grumbled, stepping aside. They sat in the living room. The silence was deafening.

Mr. Sharma sat in his armchair, staring at Dev, who was sitting on the edge of the sofa, his back as straight as a ruler.

"Toh, Dev... Psychology padhi hai tumne? Kya dikh raha hai mere chehre pe abhi?"

(So, Dev…you studied Psychology? What do you see on my face?)

Dev swallowed hard. He looked at Nandini, who was biting her lip to keep from bursting out laughing.

"Umm...uncle...aapke chehre par...ek disciplined army man look, ek protective father look aur umm...thoda sa gussa bhi...shayad?"

(Um…uncle…on your face…a disciplined army man look, a protective father look and umm…a little bit of anger…I think?)

Her father remained quiet, looking at Dev with a chilling look.

"Krte kya ho?"

(What do you do?)

"Jee...HR analyst hu."

(I am an HR analyst.)

"HR? Logo ko fire karte ho ya hire?"

(Do you hire or fire people?)

He asked and Dev gulped before speaking daringly.

"Dono, Uncle. Par aaj main yaha apply karne aaya hoon. For a permanent position... in your family."

(Both, uncle. But today I am here to apply.)

Nandini gasped. Her father narrowed his eyes. The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. 

Suddenly, her father laughed loudly. 

"Dum toh hai ladke mein!"

(The boy has guts!)

He looked at Dev, his expression softening just a fraction.

"I knew about you. Meri beti ki aankhein sab kehti hai aur meri biwi mujhse sab kehti hai. I just wanted to see if you'd break under pressure."

(My daughter’s eyes speak everything and my wife speaks to me about everything.)

Dev let out a breath so long it sounded like a deflating balloon. He slumped back into the sofa.

"Uncle, aapne toh meri heart rate 120 tak pahuncha di thi."

(Uncle, you sent my heartbeat to 120.)

"Bas ho gaya ab. Aapki inquiry puri ho gyi ho toh bache ko kuch khila du mai?"

(It’s enough now. If your inquiry is done can I feed the child something?)

Nandini's mother called out from the kitchen, bringing in a tray of tea and snacks. Nandini looked at Dev, her heart full. 

As he winked at her when her father wasn't looking, she knew that he was hers. Forever.