Nivedita's POV

I woke up and looked at the time to see that it was 6.00 p.m. I looked around to see Naveen having tea with his parents.

'Aunty, why didn't you wake me up?' I asked her.

'Your head was paining and you were tired by all the travelling, so we decided to let you guys sleep,' uncle replied and I realized that mom and dad were also sleeping.

'Go and freshen up. I will go and bring tea for you,' aunty said and went in the kitchen. I got up and adjusted my saree and felt Naveen's gaze upon me. He quickly averted his gaze when he found me looking at him. I hid my smile, went towards the washroom, got freshened up, came  back and sat on the sofa, across Naveen. Aunty came back with a cup of tea and handed it to me.

'Thank you, aunty,' I said and took a sip of tea. I loved spending time with them. I loved this house. It feels so warm and cozy. I am glad that I chose to meet him and this family.

'How is your headache now?' aunty asked.

'I am feeling a lot better after having the medicine. Thank you,' I said and looked at Naveen. He looked at me and smiled and my heart fluttered.

After mom and dad had tea, we decided to leave for Nagpur. Mom went inside the car first, and then aunty went inside. 

'Nivedita, come and seat in the front seat,' dad said and I was going.

'Come inside, beta,' Aunty said to Naveen.

'Mom, let Nivedita and dad sit at the backseat. I will sit in the front,' he said as I was going to open the door of the front seat.

'But, beta, you can't close the window. What if you get a headach----

'Nothing will happen, mom,' Naveen cut him off and asked me to go and sit in the backseat and then uncle came and sat beside me.

Thanks to him that I didn't have to sit at the window side otherwise I would have got ill due to the cold wind.

Aunty pulled me closer towards her. 'I am so happy that I am able to spend time with my future daughter in law,' she said making me smile.

'Are you having headache, beta?' aunty asked as she saw Naveen rubbing his temple.

'Boys should not be so weak,' Dad said to him which made me angry but I didn't say anything.

'I am fine, mom,' he said and I felt bad for him. 

For me, he sat in the front seat.

The drive was quiet but after few hours we stopped for a dinner.

We all got out. I waited for Naveen to get out.

'Thank you,' I said.

'You are welcome,' he smiled at me.

'Has your headache stopped?' he asked.

'Yes. After taking the medicine that you gave me, I became perfectly fine but now, you are having a headache because of me,' I said.

'No problem. I will go home and take a medicine,' he said but still I was feeling guilty.

'What are you guys doing? Come here,' dad shouted as while we were talking they had walked towards the restaurant. 

'Yes, dad.'

'Let's go,' he said.

'Sorry on behalf of my dad for the things he said to you and your family,' I apologized.

'It hurt me but I let it go,' he said and I got angry at dad but as always, I can't do anything even if I am angry at him.

We were walking towards the restaurant who was selling googles, and mufflers.

'Come here,' I said and ran towards the vendor and picked a  brown muffler.

'Bhaiya, how much is it?' I asked.

'Madam, only 200 rupees,' he said and I looked at Naveen.

'Buy this for you,' I said.

'No, it's okay. I will take a med---

'Please,' I insisted cutting off whatever he was saying.

'Okay,' he said and bought the muffler.

'Thank you for listening to me,' I said.

'I hope your dad will not call me weak, if I wear this,' he chuckled. I felt bad for him.

'Ignore him,' I said.

'Then why didn't you bought a muffler for yourself?' he asked.

'Because I don't want to argue with him and hear his lecture. If he says that it is okay to keep the window open and I don't feel cold due to wind, then I don't,' I told him.

'Even if that means, getting ill?' he asked and I nodded my head.

'Beta, dad is very angry at you. Let's go,' mom came before he could say anything and almost pulled me away from Naveen.

'You are not even engaged and you are spending so much time with him, in front of so many people. What if someone we know sees you and then start a gossip about you?' dad shouted.

'I was buying a muffler as I was feeling cold so she was just accompanying me,' Naveen told him before I can say anything and dad just nodded his head and asked us to sit.

We sat down across from each other. 'So what will you guys eat?' Dad asked.

Mom and aunty ordered roti with kaju curry and dum aloo and I agreed to it silently even though I wanted to have my favourite. Lauki ka kofta

 'Do you want anything?' aunty asked me.

'Uh... I wanted to have Lauki ka kofta,' I said reluctantly because I know that dad hates it when I order Lauki ka kofta from the restaurant as according to him, we should order something related to paneer or dum aloo or kaju curry when we visit a restaurant instead of ordering a normal dish made of lauki.

'Again? How many times I told you not to order that in a restaurant?' Dad said, almost shouted.

'I am sorry, dad.'

'I will also have lauki ka kofta,' Naveen said and I looked at him.

'But, beta, you hat---'

'I will have it,' he cut aunty off and winked at aunty and she nodded in understanding and smiled at her and then dad ordered our dishes.

'Lauki is not his favourite, but he ordered it for you,' aunty whispered in my ears and I looked at him and smiled.

I am glad that I agreed to meet him.

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After our dinner, we sat inside the car and Naveen put on the muffler and dad started laughing.

'You can't survive this much wind,' Dad mocked him and was still laughing.

'Stop saying all this,' mom tried to stop him but he was still laughing. 

'Yes, uncle. I am not as strong as you. And for me, my health comes first as I have to go to work tomorrow. You can always take a leave, but I can't,' he said and wrapped the muffler around his head and dad became quiet.

He turned behind to look at me and I gave him a big smile. I was glad that he shut dad's mouth.

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What do you think of this chapter?

What do you think of Naveen?

What do you think of Novedita.

Remember, how he had burned the whole house while making Lauki ka kofta?😄

Please COMMENT and VOTE if you liked the chapter.

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