Posted August 17th, 2018
** This is the second update in less than 24 hours. Be sure to read chapter 8 first!**

✤ Rihaan: 1.9 two can date ✤

I never imagined I'd be teasing Sanya.

I had imagined it'd be years before I could bring myself to doing that. But it seems that when she shared her insecurities with me, she shed them once and for all. She wasn't shying. She wasn't backing off from a conversation. She wasn't glancing away from my face within a second as she used to before.

She was truly being free of all things that made her nervous.

I wouldn't have wanted any other way for her.

And yet, I find myself amazed that she is capable of this. She's always had this potential hiding away inside of hers and the world needs to see that.

I gave her that piece of Hershey Kisses innocently. There was no plan of teasing her with what she didn't remember, because it didn't happen. I hadn't even thought that was what she was assuming happened until I had observed her reaction at a seemingly innocent word I'd used to just talk about the chocolate.

But... the idea that she thought it had happened? It was enough for me to tease her and see where it would go. I think I need to learn to not be surprised by her anymore. Each time, she reacts differently than I assume.

Her unpredictability keeps me going.

And now... Now I can't wait for tonight. I should have asked her out properly. Anyway, the expression on her face will be worth it. I can ask her out officially another time. For now, I simply wish to spend time with her.

Over the past three months, there have been many things that I want to share with her. We've never been someplace and just talked. Everything I know about her, it's been observed and learnt as a part of growing up together. A few nights ago may have been the first time we actually had a heart to heart where we were both talking– and God knows how many more of those times I wish for in the future.

I want to get to know her, from her, with her talking back to me instead of me reading her eyes and filling in the blanks. I want to know everything exactly as it goes on in her head, her heart.

And she may not be expressing all that anger anymore from three days ago, but I know the hurt is still there.

We need to talk about that. I need to explain my reasons for leaving were different than anything she might have assumed. The reasons don't make them right. I already know the mistake I made. But, I am hoping she will give me the chance to make up for it.

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*

I find mom in the kitchen, cooking when I return from school midafternoon. Yes, a mother cooking is normal. But, my mother cooking without listening to music is not normal.

I carefully approach her and at her lack of greeting, I assume she and dad must have had their little arguments again. I hope it wasn't over me leaving the tour suddenly with no warning, but that is just wishful thinking.

I make the smart decision and offer. "Can I help?"

She arches a brow, "You want to help me with cooking?"

I shrug my shoulders in response, "Why not? I'm no chef but I'm sure I can do something to be useful."

She narrows her eyes in suspicion, "You want something."

I don't take offense to her assumption because she is right and she does know her son too well. "Yeah, but I still want to help."

"Grab a knife," She instructs, and I pick one from the set. "Cut these potatoes and onions."

I do that silently, cutting the potatoes first the way I have seen her do plenty of times and then the onions. Half a minute into chopping onions, my eyes start burning. I make the mistake of rubbing my eyes and it only stings more. Sniffing, I suffer for the next five minutes, constantly blinking to push the blur aside and using the back of my hand to wipe fresh trails.

She didn't have to say it. This was her revenge for the scare I'd given them by leaving dad's tour in the middle of the night with a quick note scribbled on the hotel note pad as the only warning.

I'd only managed to cut half of it when she stops me, "Alright, you've suffered enough."

"Oh, thank God!" I exclaim, dropping the knife. I dug myself into this hole. I should know better than to offer her my help when it comes to cooking. I run over to the sink to wash off my hands and then my face to get my eyes to stop burning. I am sure they'll be red if I look in a mirror right now. I use my mother's stole to dry my face.

She groans, "Rihaan, how many times need I tell you this? There is a hand towel right there!" She snatches it out of my hands but I just grab it again and dry my fingers.

"You're 15 years too late to be correcting me now," I tease her for her lenient parenting. Since I was a kid, I'd just use her stole or scarf or shirt or end of her saree – whatever she was wearing. She'd only yell at me if her outfit was a designer, but then, she should know better than to wear a designer at home when she knew I always did that.

She goes back to stirring the curry simmering in the pot, "Whatever, what did you want by the way?"

I jump up on the counter next to the stove. "Can I take the car out tonight?"

"No."

"But you haven't even heard my reason yet!"

"Not happening."

"Please, pretty please?"

"No, Rihaan. You know the house rule. Without an adult, you're not driving the car. You can break other rules, but no laws."

I should have known. They were pretty lenient on many things, even my occasional underage drinking and staying out past curfew as long as I sent either of them a text and an update on who I was hanging out with. But driving without a license? That was a no. It put myself and others on the risk – even if I kind of knew how to drive. Dad's taken me out driving many times.

"Look, mom, you know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't a big thing, right? I want to take Sanya to this place and I don't fancy being babysat by the driver."

I tell her as it is, having no reason to hide things from her. She knew my feelings for Sanya. Heck, Sanya's whole family knew. I think everyone knows except for Sanya herself.

With that, I have my mothers' full attention. "You're taking her somewhere? Just her? She knows about this or is this your imagination?"

I roll my eyes at her pathetic attempt to tease me, "Ha-ha. Funny, mumma. Very funny."

"I'm surprised she said yes." She ignores my dramatic sarcasm and makes a comment of her own. My lips twitch and it doesn't miss her observant eyes. "Mean, Rihaan. She's such a sweet kid."

I defend, "What? It's not as bad as you're making it out to be. I just made a teeny tiny negotiation. She was hungry and so I said I'd share my chocolates with her if she agreed to come with me to this place."

She continues her playful scolding, "How did my son turn into a blackmailer? Where did we go wrong?"

"Mom! It was a negotiation."

She shakes her head at the unfair deal I'd struck but goes on to ask. "So, what's 'this place' called? Where is it located?"

I laugh, "As if I'll tell you, mumma. Now will you please make an exception this time and let me take the car?"

She grins mischievously, "I'll do you one better. Take your bike."

I jump down the counter in utter excitement and eyes bulging out. "You're going to let me take the bike?!"

She laughs, ruffling my hair. "It's your first date with her. Sure!"

This was a sports bike they got for me for my 14th birthday, but other than dad letting me take it on a test drive with him behind me, they've never let me drive it a second time. My mom considers two wheelers more dangerous than cars. Spawn of the Satan, if you will. If it were in her hands, she'd ban them all. So, I don't even know why they would buy it for me when they were never going to allow me to drive it until I was of legal age.

I give her a tight hug over her arms and a deep kiss on her cheek, "You're the best! I love you, mom!"

"Love you too, kid." She chuckles finding my excitement adorable, I'm sure. "Just drive extra safe, okay? No breaking any traffic laws, meaning no speeding or running lights, and definitely wear helmets."

"Yeah, yeah, mom. No need to give me the whole spiel."

She lowers her index finger which she had pointed at me while instructing, "I want both of you in one piece by the end of the night. Not a single scratch. Got it?"

"I'll be safe, promise." I genuinely tell her. I have no intentions of getting Sanya injured again. What had happened last time three months ago will definitely never be repeating in the future. Ever.

"What time are you going?"

"I told her I'd pick her up at 6:30."

She squints, "You were that sure I'd let you drive."

I chuckle, "Well, I was certainly hoping to convince you to give me the car keys but you made my night better."

She rolls her eyes and then gets into motherly role, "Go do your homework first and clean your room. Do you realize how much of a mess you've turned it into in only 3 days you've been back? And you're showing me the homework else no bike and no date-night."

I groan, "Way to ruin it, mom. And let's not call it date-night. I'm sure that hasn't clicked in her brain yet."

She winks in response, "Doesn't change the facts!"

Shaking my head in amusement, I leave the kitchen and take two steps at a time as I run up the stairs towards my room. Shower. Change. Homework. Change again. Stuff everything that is lying about into the closet. And then impatiently wait for it to be 6 so I can get going.

I wonder what she must be thinking or doing right now. Poor girl must be a nervous wrecking ball worrying over what happened the night of the Diwali party. I'm sure she'll be a bit mad at me when I tell her nothing happened... but until then, I am allowed to have some fun and tease her, right? It doesn't make me a bad person...I hope.

Just as I check myself in the mirror after getting ready, my cell rings with a specific ringtone I've assigned for dad. I answers the call with a swipe and tap the speaker symbol on screen, "Hey dad, finally got the time to call me, huh?"

"You, mister, are grounded when I get back." He says in his stern voice.

So, he and mom did have an argument over me and no doubt, this must be mom making him ground me. "Seriously? You've never grounded me before."

He makes a valid point, "You've never ran off halfway across the world either in the middle of the night, Rihaan."

Picking up the phone, I walk backwards to my bed and drop back to stare at the ceiling. "I'm sorry, dad. I didn't mean to scare you guys."

He exhales, trying to understand. "You're better than this, Rihaan. Why would you do something so impulsive?"

My defense is lame. More of an excuse, really. "I did try to inform you, dad, but you were in the middle of a concert."

"Am I not giving you enough time? Is that it?" He asks, starting to question his role as a father.

I sit up, surprised the thought crossed his mind. "Dad, no. Ofcourse not. Why would you say that? It had nothing to do with you being busy with work, I promise."

"Then what, Rihaan? Because I am really not understanding you right now."

I open my mouth but suffer a loss of explanation. I myself have to understand where my mind frame has been lately. "I don't know, dad. I guess I thought I could figure things out if I was away with you. After the way I hurt Sanya, I was just shaken up - more than I realized."

He groans at the other end of the line. "I knew I shouldn't have believed it when you told me you were okay about that."

"Dad, c'mon, you can't blame yourself because I lied to you and didn't want to admit my mistakes." I rebuke, for now he was just using every excuse to be hard on himself. "This one is on me. So don't think you aren't giving me enough time because I freaked out once. Besides, give me a break. I'm only 15 after all."

He starts to get convinced, "You're right. You are a lot more mature for being 15, anyway. I was nowhere as sorted in life as you are."

I would challenge his notion of 'sorted out' given my recent actions but I let it be for the time being. Atleast I am working on getting there. "Yeah, I'm aware of how the story goes."

With a chuckle, he includes. "Alright, well, I am still going to have to ground you when I am back else my wife is going to kick me out of our house. You understand?"

I reply with a laugh. "Sure, dad. Whatever helps you keep the wife happy."

"Speaking of, I hear you've got a date tonight."

"How is that 'speaking of?"

His voice reeks of teasing, "Do you really want me to spell it out for you?"

I groan to myself. Why did I have to ask that and give him the floor to pull my leg? I very well understood what he was implying about my future with Sanya. As he laughs, I say just to save some embarrassment, "Just remember, dad. Only 15 years old still."

"So?" He challenges, "Doesn't mean it's not going to happen one day. See, tonight's date is just the beginning."

I realize that if I keep answering, I will only be enabling both him and mom. So, I end the call in a rush, "Mhmm, I gotta go. Bye. Don't call again."

I hear his laughter just as I tap the red button. Trying to fight my own blush, I try to recall what I was going to do before his call. Yes, shoes. As I get up to walk towards my walk-in closet to pick which ones I wanted to wear tonight, my cell beeps with his message that he sends in a group chat that we have going between the three of us - mostly for times when I need to tell them of my whereabouts if I am not going straight home after school or when mom would tell to pick up something from the grocery and things as such.

Dad: I better be the first to get the details! If you tell Basket first, I'll disown you from my will.

What will? He hasn't written a will yet, and even when he writes one, someone remind him that I am his only son. What else is he going to do with everything he owns?

Rolling my eyes, I shake my head at his empty threats. Deeming it best to not reply. The phone beeps again with mom's reply but I stow it in my pocket, refusing to entertain them. It beeps four more times but given I offer no response, they must have dropped the idea of bothering me for the time being and went on to talk in their own private messages.

Really, all other times, I know I am lucky to have such wonderful parents. And then, times like today when instead of acting the typical parents, they become best friends and make it their mission to embarrass me, I start wondering if it would have been better to have normal parents. But then, I'll take one look at my life and know I wouldn't want things to be any other way.

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*

Not wanting to be the guy who texts the girl that he's outside and doesn't bother going inside, I punched in the lock code to unlock the front door and walked inside the house. I already knew I'd be getting the whole deal from everyone here.

It was a good thing Sanya was still in her room and she didn't know I was here.

Her mother is the first to lay her eyes on me. Her greeting goes like this: "Is this a date?"

Before I can answer, her father does for me. "Ofcourse it is, honey. Our daughter just doesn't see it as one."

Kripa comments, "Nice going, Ri. Didn't think you'd ask her out this quick."

Kriana adds, "I know, right? I thought I'd start growing white hair and they'd still be just looking at each other secretly from across the room."

I roll my eyes. I am not that hopeless!

Khushi teases, "Well, he definitely has learned something from his parents and is doing better."

Arnav mumbles, "I still say they're too young."

Anjali scolds him, "Chote, quiet. They're both responsible adults."

Aarav sides with his dad, "Technically, they're both under 18. Not adults."

Sam instructs, "Have her back by 10, got it?"

At that, I do speak up. "Do y'all put restrictions on Aarav bhai or anyone else for that matter?"

Aarav speaks up at that, "No, but..."

I raise my hand, "Then no, no curfew time. Weren't you all the ones to claim you were going to raise us girls and boys equally?"

Lavanya mutters in agreement, though a bit unhappily. "We did say that." I can understand her though. Sanya is her daughter. It's natural to want to be protective of your daughter and not want to accept that she is growing up.

It has only been a minute or two, but I still felt it to be more. "Can I go get her now?"

I am not allowed that liberty as Kriana yells, "Sanya!! Rihaan is here!"

Everyone winces at her booming voice but it'd be futile to scold the girl. She was Kriana, after all. There was no taming her.

Sanya stumbles out of her room, her foot getting caught on the rug. "What? Ouch. Damn it. Stupid rug," She has her own side conversation as she regains her balance, "Oh, you're here. Hold on."

She goes back into her room and a few seconds later, returns with a back pack. She's wearing a romper with a white shirt underneath and I am going to take the liberty to assume that she was wearing that earlier while painting and has not bothered to change.

Yup, she doesn't realize this is a date.

See, I may not be, but this girl is hopeless.

"What's with the bag?" I ask as she's walking down the stairs.

"Painting stuff. You said the place has a view, right?"

I try to hold in my amusement as I suggest, "Yeah, but if you want to paint it, I'll take you again another time. Leave the bag?"

"What's wrong with painting it today?" She doesn't even give me a chance to say anything – not that I'd know how to explain this to her. "Anyway, we'll be back by 8?" She turns to her mother, "Around that, I guess. Don't start dinner without me, okay?"

"Okay, we're leaving." I grab the back of her bag and drag her out, unsure of how she'd react if I held her hand to do that. Everyone behind us chuckles, probably half at how Sanya didn't get the memo, and half at pity for me. I just need to get her out of here before she embarrasses herself further.

Once we're in their driveway, I let go of her bag. "Where's the driver?" She asks noticing the lack of a car.

I take the keys out of my pocket and start to walk towards the bike knowing she'll connect the dots. Instantly, she objects. "Oh, no. Heck no. I am not going to be joining you in this rebellion. I have no interest in being scolded by your mother. How could you steal the keys?!"

I laugh while mounting on the bike. "I didn't steal them, San. She gave them to me."

She points out in confusion, "But she never lets you drive it."

"Am I going to have to call her so she can confirm she indeed gave me the keys and I didn't steal them?" I raise my brows at her challenging her trust in me.

She frowns, "No."

I hand her the spare helmet. "Good, now put this on."

She pulls her hair out of the ponytail and runs her fingers through as the layers settle by themselves, parting her wavy hair before she takes the helmet. She tries and fails when she tries to clip it under her chin. My hand envelops around her elbow as I tug her to walk a few steps sideways so I can see her before lightly tapping her fingers off the strap and fixing it myself.

"Thanks," she mumbles and I glance up into her eyes at that. Her eyes don't meet mine. She's shy again. I don't tease her for it, but she's just asking to be teased when she eyes the seat. "Are you sure I'll fit there? It looks tiny."

"San, are you calling yourself fat?" Her eyes narrow and I chuckle, "You're tiny too, you know? But anyway, don't worry. Yes, you'll fit. Now stop overthinking and sit, please."

She takes a second to judge the height and small space before exhaling and placing her tiny hand on my shoulder to use as support as she mounts herself. Once she is seated, she mumbles. "Yeah, I don't feel too safe right now."

I move her hand from my shoulder to around my torso. She inhales sharp as she slides down the seat at the movement, her body gluing to my back. "Just hold tight and you'll be fine, okay?"

Biting the inside of her cheek, she nods. Even though her arms circle my front, her fingers hesitate on locking around. Deciding to worry about her proximity shyness later, I press the ignition button and accelerate out of the driveway.

More than half of the ride there, I can feel how tensed she is. Either she's nervous about being on a bike, or she's nervous about sitting that close to me.

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*

| Author Note |

So, tried going for light and sweet and playful here given the last few chapters were heavy on emotion content. What do you think?

QOTC: Don't you love Riddhima and Armaan for being the supportive parents that they are? I know it might not seem realistic but I promise you, parents as such exist who can be friends towards their children. I know a few personally, so yeah.

Please, please vote and comment! It really encourages me to keep updating. <3