Karan above having a little too much fun intimidating everyone.

eunoia

(n.) beautiful thinking

The minute Chris touched down in Hong Kong, paparazzi went wild as a frenzy of shouts and camera flashes bombarded his senses while everyone tried to decipher what it meant for him to meet Kiara's parents. Rumours of accidental pregnancy or a wedding in the works begun floating around as people spewed conspiracy theories on why the Hollywood and Bollywood powerhouses were suddenly getting serious. 

Having posted a picture of her meeting his family on social media, both his friends and the public were restless as they tried to pry answers out of the couple. Sighing in relief when his car came into view, he hurriedly scrambled into the backseat as his bodyguard shoved in after him. He practically leapt three feet up when an excited squeal sounded from beside him as someone wrapped their arms around his shoulders in a hug. Realising it was Kiara, he laughed at the pure exhilaration vibrating through her as she squeezed him to her tightly.

Pushing back to look at her fully, he chuckled, "Alright, alright. Calm down, woman."

She raised a brow, "Excuse you?"

He winced at her irritated expression and quickly tugged her towards him again, "Never mind! Let's go back to hugs."

"Oh really? You think you're getting away with that nasty attitude so easily? I waited all day and now y–"

Cutting Kiara's rant off, Chris pressed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss as the staff quickly averted their eyes to give the couple some privacy. She breathed in his cinnamon scent, basking in the sheer masculinity of him as he feathered light kisses along the column of her neck. Pushing his seat down, he tried to make room to lift her onto his lap while subtly inhaling the intoxicating sheen of peaches that somehow always coated her skin but she quickly shifted a safe distance away as the sudden realisation that they had company hit her like a bucket of cold water. When he looked at her questioningly, she gestured to the front seat so he exhaled heavily and closed his eyes for a few seconds as he tried to calm his instincts.

Opening his eyes, he focused those torrential blues on her, "How do you manage to do this to me every time, trouble?"

She shrugged innocently, "Do what?"

"Make me lose control."

"I guess it's just a God-given talent, bub."

"Nah that's all you, baby."

On the drive over to her family home, Kiara briefed Chris on her brother and father as she prepared him to meet the most important people in her life. While he knew she didn't particularly need her family's approval on their relationship, he knew it would take the burden of expectations and judgement off her shoulders. 

It would be Kiara's parents' wedding anniversary today and while her mother may not be around anymore, Samuel still celebrated the milestone as if she were there with them. He still considered himself married and carried her with him in spirit, refusing to remove his wedding ring after all these years. 

The car twisted and turned along winding streets, slowing as it neared the secluded mountaintop residential area of Victoria Peak. They stopped before the towering gates, protecting a beautiful townhouse hidden behind willowy trees and thick tropical greenery. As they drove past the main entrance, Chris could see the stunning view stretching clear to the water and marvelled at the breath-taking sight the house overlooked.

Stepping out of the car, he blew out an impressed breath, "This view is amazing, trouble."

Kiara laughed, "Yeah, it really is."

Before she could say anything else, Karan was already sauntering over, "You must be the boyfriend."

Chris startled, momentarily thrown off-guard, "Uh, yeah. Hi."

Within seconds, Karan reached over and grabbed his collar while pressing a penknife against his neck, "Should I cut you up or push you off this cliff?"

The image of Karan, dressed in an oversized tribal patterned bohemian kurta and Harem pants, threatening Chris, wearing that polite chino and polo shirt combo, looked straight out of a fever dream as Kiara rolled her eyes, already knowing what her brother was trying to do. Chris remained at a loss for words when Karan backed away after a few seconds and tucked away the penknife only to start chortling manically. Looking to her for guidance, he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck as he waited for the laughter to die down.

"Come on inside, Javier," Karan extended his hand; "I'm Karan."

They shook hands as Chris quickly corrected, "Oh, no. I'm Chris... Chris Evans."

Leading them into the house, Karan turned to grimace at him, "What kind of a shitty name is that? Even frat bros have better names."

"Sorry to disappoint?"

He grew louder with each name he listed, "Your name should exude power. Karl Marx, Genghis Khan, Mahatma Gandhi, Frida Kahlo, Marie Curie," deflating all of a sudden, he huffed; "And here you have Chris Evans. From today onwards, you're Javier."

Amused at how strangely similar but also distinctly different the two siblings were, Chris agreed, "Alright, Javier at your service."

Karan flamboyantly bowed, "Right back at you."

"I guess that means you're not killing me?"

"Who has the right to kill another human?"

He pulled her aside as Chris continued into the house, "You told Appa he was coming, right?"

She flicked his forehead, "Of course I did. You think I'd risk him facing Appa's wrath?"

Looking genuinely shocked, he reeled back, "Huh. You're actually in love with him."

"No shit. Did you think I'd bring him back here to meet you guys if I wasn't?"

"I never thought you'd bring home any guy so I wasn't too sure what to expect."

Shoving her brother, Kiara ignored his snickers as she joined Chris in the sitting room. Composing himself again, Karan followed soon after with his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his slacks as he observed Chris. Taking in how he nervously swiped his clammy palms along his jeans, the shifty eyes and anxious smile, Karan could tell he was nervous but made no attempt to alleviate his worries.

Raising a brow mockingly, he decided to mess with Chris, "I hope you weren't planning on staying here."

As expected, he turned to her in panic before stammering out, "Oh, Kiara mentioned– never mind. I can book a room at a nearby hotel."

She interjected to prevent him from overthinking any further, flicking her hand dismissively at Karan, "Ignore him. He's just kidding."

Only feeling slightly horrible for stressing the poor man, he nodded, "Yeah, yeah."

Clutching his chest in mock-hurt, Chris whined, "Come on, man, go easy on me. I have to deal with this one," he pointed to her; "twenty-four seven."

Ignoring her outraged exclamation, Karan retorted, "You've got a point. Fine, I'll go easy on you but only if you agree to pick up my dad instead of me."

She frowned at that, "What, why?"

"He was running late so took a taxi instead of driving."

Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, Chris nodded, "Sure, I'll do it. Just send me the address."

Still unwilling to throw him in the deep end, she hissed at Karan, "Why can't you go?"

He shrugged, "I've got date night with Kriti."

"When you said you two where moving in together, I thought that meant date night was every night?"

It was at that moment that Vijay decided to make an appearance as he strolled out of the guest bedroom shirtless with his hair sticking up in all different directions, clearly having just woken up from a nap.

He retorted, "That would require some finesse and we all know Karan doesn't have game."

Flinching at the sudden interruption, Karan sarcastically quipped, "Vijay, you're like my own personal fallen angel."

"Aww, gee thanks! That's so sweet, maybe you do have some game after all."

Snorting at his ignorance, Kiara corrected, "You realise fallen angels are demons, right?"

He snapped his mouth shut at that, clearly unaware of Karan's implications as her brother quietly admitted, "I am aware."

She stifled her laugh, pretending not to hear as Vijay muttered under his breath, "Bastard."

Not missing the opportunity to compliment her, Chris leaned over to whisper, "I don't know about them but you're definitely an angel."

She scrunched her nose, "You're so embarrassing."

"Let go of my hand then."

"No."

The couple turned to find both men's focus now trained on them as they gawked at Kiara and Chris flirting amongst the chaos.

Karan gestured as if to throw up, "Dude, don't flirt with my sister in front of me," leaning in as if to share a secret, he winked; "do it behind closed doors."

Scoffing at his good-natured ribbing, Vijay smirked, "Why? They're in love."

"And what would you know about that?"

"What's that supposed to mean, dipshit?"

"What is love?"

Chris replied, "An emotional minefield," at the same time that she and Vijay sang, "Baby don't hurt me!"

Both men were now gaping at the two best friends as they broke out into fits of giggles. It was in moments like these that Chris understood why their bond meant so much to Kiara. Vijay could understand her mind in a way that no one else would and it was for that reason that he could never be jealous of their friendship. It held an entirely different place and value for her– one that he would cherish for all the happiness it brought her.

Raising a brow, Vijay crossed his arms and challenged, "You tell us. You're the one in love."

Bellowing out a laugh, Karan ruffled her hair as he grew serious, "When we crash into someone's life and throw around a few surprises, there's some sort of amazing glow in their eyes, right?"

"Sure."

"I just live off the thrill and fun of that feeling. If someone expects more from me, that'll create a problem."

"And Kriti?"

"What about her?"

This time she asked him, "Why mess around with her?"

He smirked sardonically and moved to perch on the armrest of her seat, "I'm not messing around with anyone."

"It's not that simple."

"I know. That she followed me halfway around the world, that she calls you from time to time to check in on me, that she's in love with me. I just don't know why."

"Isn't that the billion dollar question."

Walking over to the balcony, Karan leaned against the railing as he smiled wearily at Kiara. For once, he looked wise beyond his years as she tried to decipher the thoughts going through his chaotic mind.

"My life is undisciplined and disorganised. I've got no particular plan," abruptly opening his arms wide, he tossed his head back and howled into the sky.

Chris cocked his head to the side, "Doesn't mean you can't make a little room for love."

Playfully resting his chin against his palm, he pretended to think, "There was that one time when I had a fever and imagined what it would be like if I had a woman to keep me company. Could've given one more person a fever!"

She smiled wistfully, "Stop assuming you know her better than she knows herself and maybe you'll start seeing things from her perspective."

Deciding he had enough of the discussion, he threw his hands up in defeat and stood to move away, "Fucking hell! I'm not here to argue with you, Harvey Spectre."

Vijay guffawed from across the room, "Does that make me Mike Ross?"

"Nope you're not smart enough. Maybe Donna?"

"The hot redhead?"

"Nah, you're right. You're more Louis Littman."

"Alright, fuck you. I'm too sober for this shit," he said then retrieving his flask to take a swig of bourbon before waving at her and turning to leave; "Catch you later, sweetheart."

Reclining back in her seat, Kiara spent the next hour catching up with Karan as he in turn got to know Chris a little better. When her brother had finally satiated his curiosity, Chris slipped away into the guest room to unpack as the siblings chatted away. Eventually Karan excused himself to answer a phone call so she left to their room, quietly standing at the door to watch as Chris nervously paced back and forth. She knew he tried to hide his anxiety and appear stronger for her but what he didn't realise it was that it was this vulnerable and thoughtful side that drew her to him in the first place.

She smiled softly, "How's the pep talk going?"

Momentarily stunned by the sudden intrusion, Chris flinched and somehow tripped over his own feet as Kiara gasped and tried to catch him but only succeeded in following him down. She landed heavily onto him as he grunted in pain when her elbow sharply jabbed his ribs.

Quickly trying to scramble off him, she apologised profusely but he simply laughed and tugged her back down onto him, "So much better now."

She scrunched her nose, "You little pervert!"

Pinching her cheek and swiping her chin, he pulled her impossibly closer, "Shut up, you love it. And we both know there's nothing little about me."

Kiara widened her eyes, surprised that Chris had taken to copying her mannerisms, but he barely gave her enough time to react before pressing his lips against hers. Moving against him as she slowly threaded her fingers through the thick strands of his copper hair, she felt his groan vibrate against her heated skin as his hands roamed across her body. He teased a needy moan out of her as he trailed kisses down her neck, sucking and nipping until dark purple bruises formed along her olive skin. 

She sighed in annoyance, knowing he found some strange pleasure in leaving love marks along her skin for everyone to see. She had taken to playfully calling him an underdeveloped neanderthal, claiming that if he intended to adopt possessive behaviour akin to that of a caveman then she would see him as exactly that but he simply pounced on her and tickled her until she took the insult back. 

They broke apart as Kiara took some much needed gulps of oxygen before helping Chris unpack and by the time afternoon rolled around, he was already driving over to Samuel's office while she and Karan prepared the house to surprise their father.

Samuel Mathew was well known in the business world for his brilliant mind and creative approaches. As one of the most successful corporate lawyers in Asia, he was acclimated to thriving in a cutthroat environment and thus adopted a more cynical outlook on life. Given his reputation, Chris found the ordeal of meeting Kiara's father increasingly daunting. 

Samuel's office was exactly what you would envision for a corporate lawyer– clean and cold with various shades of grey and full-height windows to overlook the city. His secretary instructed Chris to take a seat outside while the firm partners concluded their meeting. He could hear the discussions taking place from where he was seated, listening in as curiosity got the better of him. Samuel dressed head to toe in black, looking every bit like the cutthroat lawyer with his effortlessly styled greying hair and perfectly groomed beard.

Somehow the contrast of his smart-casual turtleneck sweater against everyone else's formal suits made him seem all the more threatening as he leaned back, at ease while his partner shifted uncomfortably and hesitantly informed him, "Jessica just called. Sam... we lost the bid."

He laughed boisterously, "We lost, huh?"

The partners gave each other worried looks, "You're laughing but–"

"Amy!"

Chris watched in interest as Amy scuttled past him into the office, "Yes, Mr. Mathew?"

"Could you call for Caleb? I'd like him to be here."

She nodded, hurriedly leaving to call Caleb as Samuel turned to face the partners again, "Perfect."

His partner tried again, "Here's the situation... Adrian Yan won the bid."

"Yan took on the case," he burst out laughing; "Amazing!"

"It is?"

He nodded and continued to chuckle, sobering up as Caleb walked into the room, "Ah, here he is. Caleb, welcome."

Turning to face the partners, he smirked, "Now that everyone is here, I'd just like to clear the air... I meant to lose the auction."

They gaped at him as he faced Caleb again, "By the way, Caleb, you're fired."

The partners looked around in confusion as Chris watched the expressions ranging from anger to confusion to mild amusement.

Samuel continued, unfazed by their reactions, "Please tell Adrian, whom you've been secretly sharing confidential company details with, that his chances of receiving another project are unlikely as this one will most definitely bankrupt his firm."

Caleb struggled to explain himself, "Mr. Mathew–"

Samuel rested his arms on the table, leaning forward intimidatingly and dropping his tone, "You've been caught red-handed, Caleb. I wonder how Adrian plans to complete this project with such a demanding budget."

Caleb began to shout, "This is bullshit! You think you're better than everyone? Why don't you come settle this outside if you're so great, huh?"

Samuel frowned mockingly, "Well, Caleb, I'm sorry you feel that way."

He stood and walked towards Caleb menacingly, "But if you think having an IQ above 20 and wearing fancy suits means I won't get my hands dirty, go ahead and take a swing. See what happens."

The two men maintained tense eye contact for a few seconds before he moved closer to whisper in Caleb's ear, "Didn't think so."

One of the other partners stood up, interjecting, "Samuel, don't you think that's a bit too harsh? At least let him explain himself."

He smirked, "Criticise me when you're at my level but until then, just admire my handiwork."

Samuel's partner huffed and stomped out of the room, refusing to engage further, while Caleb lowered his head and shamefully followed. The other partners remained speechless, impressed with Samuel's instincts.

He turned to them and commented, "Always consider the man behind the business. Adrian gets overly emotional and constantly focuses on getting the upper hand over us. I simply let him think he did."

Giving each other congratulatory pats on the back, the partners shook their heads in disbelief as they celebrated their victory and left the office. Samuel walked them out and paused upon recognising Chris, making his way out of the office towards him. He had a bearing about him that made people crave approval as Chris stood a little taller.

He cleared his throat, nervously straightening his shirt as he held his hand out for Samuel to shake and introduced himself, "Chris Evans."

Giving a firm handshake, Samuel raised a brow, "Is that supposed to mean something to me?"

"Uh, no. No, sir. Sorry, I just came by to pick you up."

"Really? Didn't realise Hollywood actors were being so underpaid that they took on any odd job."

"Oh I actually came here with your daughter, Kiara."

He leaned back, evaluating the man before him, "Ah, so you're the boyfriend."

Chris playfully raised his hands in mock-surrender, "Guilty."

"Pleasure to meet you, I've heard so little about you."

He laughed awkwardly, unsure of how to react as Samuel held his office door open, "Come on in."

Waiting in the car, Kiara muttered under her breath in frustration at how long it took Karan to get ready. Annoyed at the exceedingly long waiting time and knowing her brother was likely aimlessly scrolling through his phone, she quickly shot him a text.

Kiara: Where are you, dumbass?

Karan: To be honest, not really sure.

Kiara: Kunjetta

Karan: I'm definitely somewhere on this planet, Kunju.

Kiara: You're star fished on your bed aren't you?

Karan: Hey these legs take me somewhere, I simply hop on and follow.

Kiara: Well get those legs to take you to the car. I've been waiting for half an hour.

The siblings had arranged for their yearly paintball session, an activity their mother had thoroughly enjoyed and forced her family to participate in. As such, it was only fitting that they did the same every year on her anniversary. Kiara worried about if Chris and her father were getting along and hoped he wasn't feeling too anxious. While she had initially planned to be there with him, he felt it might be better if he went to meet her father on his own so they could, in his words, 'speak man-to-man'. Eventually they settled on all meeting up at the paintball centre while he went to pick up Samuel from work.

Karan opened the car door and settled into the passenger seat, snapping her out of her thoughtful state as she smiled, "Hey!"

He hopped in, "What's up dude. Ready for our day?"

"Yeah!"

Barely paying attention to her excited rambling, he frowned suspiciously at how far back the car seat was set, "Woah. Why is this seat so far back?"

She quickly tried to brush past the question, "Oh, you can just push that back up."

"Who was in here?"

"No one! I was just hanging out with a friend."

Kiara could practically hear the wheels turning in his head as Karan remained silent.

He flopped back onto his lowered car seat and slowly brought his hands up behind his head as he yelled, "What is this?"

Again, she tried to ignore his line of questioning, "Why aren't you putting up your seat?"

He gaped in disbelief, "What, were you star gazing in the passenger seat by yourself?"

She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as she vaguely replied, "I said I was with a friend."

"Who?"

"Jay!"

"Don't act like it wasn't that pretty boy, Javier."

"Maybe it was but I don't want to talk to you about that!"

He widened his eyes and shot up, "Why not?"

"Because you always make it a big deal."

Laughing sardonically, he threw his arms up and retorted, "Okay. This is hook up position–"

She scrunched her face in disgust, "Oh my God, stop!"

Karan obnoxiously squinted his eyes and puckered his lips as he exaggeratedly pretended to flirt, "What's up, baby girl?"

Reclining the seat back slowly and refusing to break eye contact, he continued, "Oooh yeeaahhhh."

Squeezing her eyes closed in embarrassment, she whined, "Are you trying to ruin our day?"

He huffed, "Oh, now we're getting mad. The five phases of deflection."

"Okay. You know what? Let's just go."
"What was your boyfriend doing leaning back? Just tell me the truth."

"I neither confirmed nor denied said boyfriend being here."

He scrutinised her further, "Were you on that side?"

"Oh my God, you always–"

He freaked out, jumping out of his seat, "Oh my God! Why wouldn't you just say 'yes'? Were you in this seat?"

Knowing Karan hated the sound of smacking chewing gum, Kiara quickly popped a piece into her mouth and chewed as loudly as she could, instantly shutting him up.

He threw his head back, "Oh, don't do that. You know that's nasty."

She smiled impishly as he sighed, "Fine, you win!"

Letting out a whoop of victory, Kiara started the car as they headed to the paintball centre.

Halfway through, Karan asked her to pull over as he pulled out his phone, "Let me just do something really quick."

"What?"

"I'm phoning a friend."

Realising he was about to call Vijay so they could interrogate her, she leaned over to try grab his phone, "No!"

Karan eventually managed to convince Vijay to meet them at the paintball centre, smiling devilishly as he arrived and got into the car.

Vijay raised a brow at the car seat Karan was sprawled across, "Did old age finally get to you? Your back give out?"

He glared at Vijay before questioning, "You see a seat like this in a car, what are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking somebody had a good time."

"That's what I was saying!"

He gasped upon understanding the situation and shoved himself forwards as he interrogated, "Was it like this when you got in?"

Karan nodded, "Yep. Seems a little irresponsible, huh?"

Vijay wagged his finger in Kiara's face, "You've been a bad girl haven't you, sweetheart?"

The two men went back and forth, clowning around as they tried to get answers out of Kiara.

Placing his hand over his chest, Karan joked, "I felt like it was my brotherly obligation but then she said you were with her."

Vijay raised a brow, "She said I was here?"

"Yeah, so I'm laying here– like you apparently did, trying to see what you saw."

"Interesting."

"You see where I'm going?"

"Yeah. You comfortable?"

"I'll be honest with you, no."

"Really?"

"I'm kinda hurting my neck!"

"Good thing I didn't lie there then."

They both watched her facial expressions carefully as Vijay got in her face, "Look me in the eyes and tell me you're not hiding anything."

Karan quickly interjected, sticking his hands in between them, "Oookay, this is a little too romantic so how about you both look at me."

"Hold on, let me get to the bottom of this."

"No, no, no! Nobody getting into no bottoms!"

They all burst out laughing but he quickly pulled a straight face, "Oh you think this is funny now?"

She spluttered in confusion, "What?"

Vijay joined in, "Nothing is funny about this, young lady."

Karan nodded, "Nothing."

Refusing to entertain the increasingly ridiculous scenario, Kiara simply got out of the car and proceeded to enter the paintball centre and waited for the men to calm down. Eventually after a good five minutes, Karan and Vijay sheepishly followed after her and agreed to stop pestering her about the car seat as they geared up to prepare for paint war.

Long time no see, my lovelies. I've had a bad case of the slumps as I lost motivation to write for a bit but now I'm back and better than ever!