Yara and Nihal stood side by side as they washed the utensils. Seeing that none of them knew how to cook, they decided to help Hritika by taking up the task of cleaning up after dinner.

"Are Vivaan and Rehyaa back yet?" Nihal asked, while making a yuck face at the oily utensil.

"Not yet. Maybe they are taking time. After all, the girls are visiting their home again."

"True. Let's just hope they come back soon."

Yara paused mid-rinsing, to look at Nihal, "Why? Do you need to discuss something important with them?" Nihal seemed desperate for their return.

"Nah, it's actually nothing to do with them. I am going to the town for a meeting. So I was hoping to take you with me. But that can't happen if Vivaan and Rehyaa aren't here. Until they come, the whole responsibility of the awareness program is on you and Hritika. For our date to happen, we need them to come and relieve you from your duties."

"Date?" Yara asked with wide eyes as red hue started spreading on her cheeks.

Not having seen Yara's face, Nihal assumed that Yara didn't know the meaning of date. He started explaining it in plain terms, unknown to that fact that Yara's heart was pounding with happiness.

"I don't really know how to explain more on this, but it is sort of romantic outing," Nihal muttered, as he finally turned to face her.

He grinned as he saw her flustered face. Hastily wiping out his hands, he took out his mobile to capture the moment.

"Hey!!" Yara shouted as Nihal clicked her photos. "This is so embarrassing. Stop it."

She started trying to snatch his mobile from him. Nihal raised his hand to keep the mobile away from her. Yara tried a few times unsuccessfully to get the mobile, before taking a huge leap. She finally managed to grab the mobile, but in the process both of them came too close to each other. Their hands which were raised above, clutched each other while the mobile stayed in the middle, as they stared at each other. Unknowingly, their faces started leaning towards each other and were just about to touch when—

"What the hell is wrong with Uncle?"

Nihal and Yara jumped apart as they heard Hritika cursing loudly. Nihal coughed, moving a step away, while Yara smoothened the non-existent creases on her top.

Hritika soon entered the kitchen to see the couple looking here and there, not meeting each other's eyes. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Hritika said, "I will come back later."

"No."

"There's no need."

Both of them blurted out together.

"Okayyy." Hritika drawled out, amused by their red faces. She stifled her smile, trying hard to not comment on the obvious tension.

"What happened? You were cursing dad? What did he do again?" Nihal asked hurriedly, trying to get her observant eyes away from them.

Hritika rolled her eyes, "Nice tactic. Don't worry, I am not interested in talking about....about whatever you are trying to hide."

"Hritika," Nihal said with gritted teeth, eyeing towards an uncomfortable Yara, before gesturing with his hands to change the topic.

"Oh...I...," Hritika fumbled but got back on track in a second, "Oh yes! Vivaan messaged me. He and Rehyaa cannot come back until the procedure of combining the packs is over. As an Alpha, Vivaan has to stay in the Midnight pack. Although Vivaan assured me that he will manage, Uncle should have informed that first before they went on with the coronation. How can he just throw this upon them unexpectedly?" Hritika huffed, feeling bad for Vivaan and Rehyaa.

"There goes our date," Nihal grumbled, looking down at his feet.

"It's fine. We will go after Vivaan comes back. It isn't cancelled, just postponed." Yara squeezed his hand, trying to comfort him.

He nodded slowly, but then left the kitchen in a bad mood. Yara tried stopping him, but let him go thinking he would feel better after a few minutes of brooding.

"Bad timing. Should have told these news after the dishes were done," Hritika commented, looking at the pile of unwashed utensils.

"Seriously?"

Hritika laughed loudly looking at Yara's annoyed face, before muttering an apology.

"Anyone can see that the apology wasn't sincere," Yara grumbled as she started her work again.

"Come on now, don't get angry. This time really sorry," Hritika said, making pleading eyes.

Yara shook her head at her antics but smiled anyway.

"And one more sorry."

"Huh? For what?" Yara asked, confused by another apology.

"For ruining your romantic moment," Hritika said, making Yara hit her on the shoulders lightly. The girl just didn't know when to stop.

"Hey! Don't get your soapy hands on me." Hritika shrieked away, making Yara throw more soap bubbles towards her.

"Okay okay, let's stop. We need to finish these too," Hritika said, pointing towards the load of utensils that kept growing in their sink.

"I feel bad for Vivaan. What will they do in that empty pack?" Yara said.

"They will happily do what you two couldn't." Hritika smirked.

"What?" Yara asked, but regretted asking within a second.

"Romantic getaway." Hritika laughed loudly.

Yara huffed and stomped away from the kitchen.

"Hey, hey, wait. " Hritika stopped her by pulling her wrist. "No more jokes, promise."

"Don't make a promise. I am hundred percent sure that one more joke will come within a few seconds."

"It won't, seriously."

"Alright, alright, stop making puppy dog eyes. It doesn't suit you at all," Yara said, making Hritika chuckle.

"By the way, where are you two planning to go on a date? Considering, we aren't allowed to leave the pack, there won't be many options left." Hritika wondered.

Yara shrugged, "I don't know. As Nihal is planning the date, I am sure it is going to be different than the werewolf ones. And I have no idea how a human date works."

"And yet you look so excited," Hritika observed. "What if the human date is boring for you?"

Yara smiled, before saying, "Nothing can get boring if Nihal is with me. I am just happy that he initiated this. This is the first time Nihal is doing something on his own."

"Yara...," Hritika said softly, as she heard the unmistakable hurt in the girl's voice.

"From the very start, I was his obligation. Becoming my mate, being with me 24/7, staying in one room; everything was mandatory. This is the first time Nihal has done something for me because he wanted to and not because he needed to do it." Yara's voice cracked along with the small pearls that dropped out of her eyes.

She hastily wiped her eyes, before assuring Hritika who looked concerned, "Don't panic, these are happy tears."

Hritika patted Yara's head gently. "Your relationship with Nihal might be slow than the usual relationships between mates, but I can guarantee you that what you two have can't be ever compared. It is the most genuine thing ever. The awkwardness, slowly trying to get to know each other, constantly trying to see if the other one is comfortable; all these factors just add to the purity of your relationship.

"The care and respect you two have for each other is very rare. It might take time, but I promise that your relationship will blossom. Not in the conditional way that mates work, but in your own time and pace. You two own your relationship. Never think of yourself as a compulsion in his life. He chose to be with you. You are his chosen one."

Yara hugged Hritika tightly, feeling grateful for her presence in their life.

"I am looking forward to many more happy tears," Hritika said, coming out of the hug, before patting Yara's cheeks, wiping away her tears.

This was the moment when Yara fully understood why Nihal found a mother in Hritika. Today, she saw one of the many roles Hritika played in Nihal's life.