Abhi had chosen to stay with Shruti for the week as Aditya's parents were around, and he wished to give the family some privacy. Hence, Nandini found herself in an awkward situation where Sandhya insisted on helping with the evening meal, and the two women continued chattering as the men watched a cricket match on television. Now, the awkward part was most certainly the random questions that popped from Sandhya's side, gauging to know more about the girl, to see if she knew anything at all about her son's likes and dislikes and that one arbitrary question about whether she had ever stayed over at Aditya's place. Nandini could only gulp and smile weakly, for she had stayed, yes, but not in the capacity Sandhya was imagining.

Much to Nandini's annoyance, Aditya had her convinced to pose to be his girlfriend. Though she had a pleasant evening with his parents, she glared at her newfound boyfriend from time to time, expressing her displeasure at the situation. Two hours of sheer torture and endless questions for Nandini ended when the meal was ready. Seated at the dining table with the plates of Biryani and bowls of raita, Choley Bhature, and a platter of green salad, the four of them savored the delicacies, praising Sandhya's cooking skills and continuing the Q&A session.

"I am so glad he has a girlfriend whom we liked instantly." Sandhya blew air out of her mouth. "Otherwise, bride hunting in this day and age is so difficult, I tell you."

Nandini giggled, casting a furtive glimpse at Aditya whose lips had rolled inward. Guilt filled her up, and she had to shove it down along with a spoonful of flavored rice.

"So, how did you guys meet?" Abnish said, wagging his fingers between the newest couple in town sitting opposite him.

"Tinder," Aditya blurted.

Nandini crinkled her nose, scowling at him. "Tinder?"

He shrugged. "Yeah."

She rolled her eyes. Glimpsing at his parents, she said, "We have mutual friends, Uncle. I work in the same firm as Piyali. She is his... uh..."

"Friend." Sandhya smiled wide. "We know. Adi introduced her to our family. A very good friend she is, am I right?"

Aditya shifted uncomfortably at his spot, popping open the topmost button of his shirt as his breath came out raggedly. "Yep."

Nandini forced a smile on her face. "Yeah... well... we met at a dinner she had organized at her place."

"Oh, and you connected instantly?" Abnish said.

Nandini had to gulp down the bile rising up her throat. Their first meeting was surely something she would remember till her final breath, but an instant connection was a far-off dream. "Technically," she pursed her lips, "we first met when I unintentionally dashed into his baby at the airport parking."

She went back to shoving spoonfuls of the delectable food into her mouth, disregarding the complete quietude that had befallen the dining table. When she finally looked up, she was taken aback upon coming across the shocked expressions on everyone's faces. Sandhya had her mouth hung open, Abnish was in the midst of putting the spoon in his mouth, and Aditya had a massive frown etched on his features.

"What?" she said, her gaze flickering between the three. "Did I say something wrong?"

Sandhya gaped at Aditya, her lips trembling and eyes full of tears. "There is a baby?"

Aditya shook his head vigorously. "No, Mom. She is—"

"Yeah." Nandini giggled. "Out of wedlock."

"Baby Elephant, there is no filter in your mouth, is there?" Aditya snapped.

Abnish huffed. "Adi, is this what we taught you? Who is the mother? Where is the baby?"

"And how can you be okay with this, Nandini?" Sandhya squealed.

Comprehension finally dawned on Nandini, and her palms flew to her mouth to suppress a snicker. But her expression morphed into one of utmost somberness when Aditya pinched her arm. "I meant... uh.. no, Uncle, Aunty. I was not talking about a human baby. He loves his car so much that all of us tease him. The car is his firstborn, and his job is his girlfriend. He loves his job more than he loves Piy... uh... I mean, more than he loves me."

As the tension around the table lessened, all of them broke into fits of giggles.

"Oh come on, girlfriend." Aditya chortled, earning her undivided attention. "There can be no one I love more than..." His grin faded on catching sight of the gorgeous, beaming Nandini.

Her smile faltered too, and she took a cautious breath out of anticipation. "More than?"

He flashed a smile at his parents before turning back to her. "My Mom. I love her the most in the world."

***

Well-spent, well-fed, satiated emotionally.

Nandini indeed experienced that in the four short hours she had spent with the Roys. Living alone could sometimes get quite boring, and she was privy to that. However, the initial awkwardness aside, there was never a dull moment with the bunch of nice people she had come across. A happy family it was indeed, and she found glaring similarities between the Roys and her own family back in Delhi. Sweet, simple, content, and jovial.

Hence, when she had to walk back home at the end of the night, she was feeling very despondent. Sandhya and Abnish had insisted she stay back, but she declined the offer. It was uncourteous, given she was not the actual girlfriend and she was a very good friend to Piyali, who was in Denver and had no idea what shenanigan Aditya had come up with.

Though it was only a five-minute walk, Aditya had chosen to accompany her, and she was glad, for the end of the wondrous evening was saddening for her, and his company, as usual, lightened her mood. He had this uncanny power to bring a smile to her face despite all the odd things he uttered from the garbage can he called his mouth.

"So, Baby Elephant, you did well back there. I am impressed," he said, his hands tucked inside his jeans pocket. "You can be a wonderful fake girlfriend to any man, and he would be the luckiest person alive."

She scoffed. "Why fake? I can be a real girlfriend to anyone."

He shrugged. "Not everyone is patient like me to take their time and look past the craziness you boast of."

"The absolute devil," she mumbled.

He chuckled, halting in front of her building. "Good night, Nandini. And thanks for doing this. Let me know when you are free tomorrow after work, and I can pick you up."

Alarm bells rang inside her head. "I thought the charade was only for today. It can get so risky if we continue like this. Can't you make an excuse or something? Perhaps my sister is in labor too?"

He chortled again. "Yes, it was for a day, but then," he grinned, "I kinda like having you around, and I bet Mom and Dad would love it too." Winking, he swerved to go back home.

She stood rooted at the spot, unable to comprehend the tingles down her spine, the butterflies in her stomach. "Aditya?"

He whirled around. "Yeah?"

"During dinner, were you going to take Piyali's name or someone else's?"

His expression hardened, and he remained silent for a long time, staring right back at her as she gaped on unblinkingly. "I love my Mom the most in the world. It's true."

"And second-most? Piyali, right?"

He smiled. "Soumya."

She huffed. "Third-most? Piyali, right?"

"My grandmother," he said, snickering.

Tugging at her hair, she was about to open her mouth when he cut her off.

"Fourth-most, my niece. Fifth-most, my Dad and Samarth. Sixth-most—"

"I don't wanna know." She twisted her lips. "Actually, I wanna know. Sixth-most is?"

He clicked his tongue. "Good night, Baby Elephant."

He had swerved to walk away when she bit her lips and yelled, "Aditya?"

He huffed, turning around all over again. "Yeah?"

"You were not going to say Mom initially. I know it. Don't ask me how I do, but I do."

His brows shot up. "Okay. And what am I supposed to do with that wonderful information?"

She rolled her eyes. "Whose name were you going to take? Tell me the truth. It was not Piyali either. I know it. Don't ask me how I do, but I do."

He flashed her a wide grin watching the anxiety mingling with anticipation on her face. "You might be right there, but how about I keep that information to myself, Nandini Basu?"

***

She couldn't concentrate at work. She had to tell Pete to repeat the list of tasks he had narrated during the scrum that morning, for her mind was all over the place, and her listening capabilities had been rendered worthless. All of it could be attributed to the devil she had grown quite fond of, whose company she enjoyed more than she would like to admit.

Once Pete noticed her restlessness, her inability to focus on work, he asked her to take the rest of the day off and tend to the problem at hand. She agreed instantly, for the problem was indeed an enormous one. Aditya had told her he would be coming to pick her up in the evening, and that his mother was planning to visit the nearby temple where the architecture was apparently breathtaking.

Nandini had no clue why she was freaking out, but she was on the edge throughout the day. Even when she got dressed after coming back early from the office, she felt like backing out. Her brain was constantly signaling her to stay away from Aditya and his family, but her heart was not in her control anymore. She felt the urge to spend more time with them, laugh with them, banter with Aditya, and perhaps impress them too.

Hence, she draped a purple saree around herself, accessorized with a minimal pair of gold earrings, and was busy dabbing makeup over her face.

"He and his abnormal, warped thinking! This is preposterous. Such a dysfunctional mind he has! I pity Piyali." Her lips drooped. "Poor Piyali! Who, in their right mind, would put up with Aditya for a lifetime?" She picked up the concealer stick and dabbed it over the pimple on her forehead. "If Mom and Dad get to know what I am doing, they will slay me alive. Cheating someone is a big no-no." Sniffling, she peered at the new pimple that had popped on her cheeks. "Oh, God! Help me! Another pimple? For real? I am supposed to meet Aditya and his parents looking like a freaking flea market of acne?" She pouted, grabbing the bottle of foundation. "Life sucks! Pimple, pimple, go away. Come again another day, for I have to meet Aditya today."

***

Throughout the car ride from her building to the temple, Aditya continued glaring at her from time to time. Abnish had forced her to occupy the passenger seat next to the devil, and she regretted every moment of it. She was not sure what his cause of displeasure was when he sounded perfectly normal over the call before picking her up. However, as Sandhya steered the conversation towards some embarrassing stories from his childhood, she tried imagining a toddler Aditya glowering at her, and she was reduced to a laughing mess instead of feeling intimidated.

The temple finally loomed into view, boasting of the traditional Madurai-style architecture, the top of the structure a steadily narrowing base but not converging to a single point. The edifice was painted golden, standing on a rectangular plinth made of marble with stairs running down from each side. It was getting pretty cold that evening, and they had to step out with their jackets on their bodies. As the cold hard ground caused a sudden chill to seep to her bones once she set foot on the marble, she flinched, shivered, and held onto Aditya's arm, only to get another glower in return.

She pouted and edged closer to Sandhya, who was busy appreciating the well-maintained and clean premises, the green plants visible all around, the leaves swaying due to the soft winds. Once inside, Nandini was quite surprised too. She had always seen this particular temple from the outside but had never stepped within, but the series of idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses placed all around the massive hall was a sight to watch. An inverted U-shaped platform on the floor over which the idols resided ran around the hall, the ceiling fitted with lights, flowery festoons hung all around—it was indeed beautiful.

The idols were bedecked with the most exquisite clothes and jewelry imported from India. The priests were chanting mantras that purified the entire atmosphere. The incense sticks were made of pure sandalwood whose fragrance was intoxicating and alluring. The range of earthen lamps lit around the place was enough to illuminate the hall without the ceiling lights, and the aroma of the freshly cooked oblation made of flour, nuts, and sugar seemed like the perfect addition to their holy evening.

Sandhya offered the container to the priest that Nandini had helped her arrange in the car. Consisting of a box of vermillion, a bunch of bananas, a few flowers, and a bottle of clarified butter, the container was graciously accepted by the dhoti-clad priest, who didn't waste a single moment before launching into a veneration for the well-being of the Roys.

Once done, Sandhya and Abnish went around the hall to appreciate the different manifestations of God they had faith in. But Aditya and Nandini stayed back as he had some important conversation to exchange with her.

"Why on Earth are you wearing a saree?" he muttered when he saw his mother and father roam the shimmering, golden hall.

"Do I look bad?" She gripped her belly between her fingers, poking at the fat she was not always proud of. "I look fat, don't I?"

He huffed. "You look pretty, Baby Elephant. But that's beside the point. You are not supposed to be impressing them. Can't you be more... I don't know... snobbish or irksome or just normal Nandini Basu? You don't need to pretend to be sweet around them."

She pursed her lips and smacked his arms. "Such an asshat you are! I am always sweet to everyone."

"Except me."

"Except you, and there's a reason."

"Oh, really?" He flashed a sarcastic smile. "And what's your reason?"

"You are a complete jerk, nincompoop, idiotic muscle man with a few brain cells, who can surely dash into a lamppost one fine morning because he lacks the intellect." Huffing, she strode towards the priest before he got the chance to retort.

***

The following evening, Aditya chose to take his parents shopping, visit a fair at the mall, and dine at an exotic French restaurant a few miles away from the city. Sandhya went to every branded store she was fond of and bought clothes for herself and Soumya, and even gifted a couple of items to Nandini. Meanwhile, Aditya stood outside a jewelry store, noticing the exquisite diamond necklace on display with a massive emerald at the center over a shimmering silver chain, which he was certain would look beautiful on Nandini. He was prompted to buy it even because he saw her gazing at the piece of jewelry with reverence, but then her face fell as it was quite expensive.

True, the price was exorbitant even for a well-to-do financial analyst like Aditya, given he had just made the downpayment for the loft he was hoping to buy for Piyali and himself. However, he couldn't misremember the glint in her eyes and the smile on her face when she saw the necklace.

With the shopping bags in hand, they chose to ride the Ferris wheel with Aditya and Nandini occupying one car and Sandhya and Abnish taking the subsequent one. Once the rotational movements began, slow at first and then quickening with each passing moment, Nandini found herself enjoying her time. With the clear views of the bay at a distance, she wished the car would stop at the topmost point so that they could click a nice picture that she had been trying to get for the last five minutes.

Aditya was getting consistently tortured because she would not be satisfied with any of the gazillion pictures he had clicked for her. Every pic had some sort of an issue that he couldn't see but she could surely notice. She was not pouting enough in one. Her hair was messier on the other. Oh, and in the fiftieth one, she was looking directly at the camera and it was not natural and candid enough.

But then their car was at the absolute top of the wheel, the views of the ocean perceptible at a distance, and it indeed halted its movement due to a technical glitch that had chanced. An announcement resounded across the arena, informing them of the fix that was underway and that the rotations would begin soon enough.

Nandini slumped on her seat, letting her hair fly over her face due to the not-so-gentle winds blowing at that height. With a soft smile on her lips, her gaze was fixated on the horde of people experimenting with liquid nitrogen ice creams on the ground as she watched the vapor coming out of their mouths with child-like innocence. But she failed to notice the intensity with which a certain someone was peering at her.

"You want to get one of those?" he said.

She chuckled. "Probably some other time. Don't want your parents to think I am a baby."

He smiled unwittingly before glimpsing around himself. "We are at the top of the Ferris wheel."

"Yes."

"If only you were my girlfriend," he snickered, "I would have kissed you."

She snorted. "What's your obsession with kissing me, dude?"

He shrugged. "When you pout, you look really... kissable."

She groaned. "Is it you flirting with me? If so, I must tell Piyali that the devil Aditya Roy is obsessed with Nandini Basu."

"Obsession." He chortled, scratching his chin. "You might call it that, yes."

Her breath hitched in her throat, and her cheeks turned amaranthine once again, more so because he didn't take his eyes off her for even a moment.