FARI
✨

The minute I felt a bear chest against my body I screamed loudly and in one go my mouth was palmed and the man flipped our positions and I was beneath this man. My mouth was covered with his huge palm. Cold metal rings touched my lips and cheeks. The size of his palm was so big that he practically covered half of my face.

He switched on the bed lamp. I wanted to see this man but the thought that he is probably naked made me shut my eyes tightly. For a few minutes I couldn't feel any movement from the beast of a man hovering above me. I don't know for how long he was in the same position above me god alone knows doing what. He didn't move a inch. I was shivering and shuddering in fear. Is he going to harm me? I knew I couldn't just stay like this. I had to save myself.

I tried to move my hands here and there hoping to catch hold of something and when nothing but just a comforter is what I found I decided to play smart. I dragged the comforter and pulled it over his head... shoving it into his face suffocating him. When he started to get out of the comforter is when I slipped out of his hold and ran out of the room.

I was so damn scared that I immediately ran into the first room in the opposite direction and barged open only to find Riya and Ray stuffing their lips into each other. I shut my eyes tightly turning around and muttering a 'Sorry Sorry Sorry!!! I didn't know!!! Shit I'm sorry!!!' I kept blabbering while Riya came running to me.

'FD chill...it's ok...it's...it's... just...I mean... forget it...why ..why are you...I mean how come you are here this late...all ok?' I asked and I quickly turned around saying...

'Ac... Actually... there's some naked man in the room I'm allocated...he...I mean..'

Suddenly I heard Ray saying 'A naked man?'

'Ummm yes!!! He tried to pin me down...but I was also quick I hit him with a stick and shoved comforter into his face and escaped from the room!' I said in one breath.

'Who entered your room like that without my permission and where is Mario! I asked him to keep an eye on you folks and make sure you guys are good!! I'm so sorry Felina Bai (sister). I hope you don't mind me calling you that!' Ray said politely.

'You can call me Fari! And I don't know even I was scared' I said and he nodded saying

'Come let me see who is this man who has invited trouble upon himself!!!' saying Ray walked towards the room I was allocated.

Just when he was about to enter the room opposite to the one where I was staying I stopped him saying...
'Ray...not that...this is the room!' And he looked shocked.

'You....you were in that... that room???' and I nodded saying 'That was the one I was allocated!'

'Christ!!!' he exclaimed and then he gulped nervously saying...

'Well Fari!!! Looks like you were allocated the wrong room! That's already someone's room. This is your room! Please make yourself comfortable!' and I was shocked.

'You...you mean I barged into someone else's room?'

'Well ummm yes! But it's not your fault! I think some new staff took you here and didn't know this room isn't a guest room! Anyways I'm screw sorry for the mess... please make yourself comfortable!' saying Ray was about to leave and I asked in one go...

'Well...Ray...whom does the room really belong to?'

He paused for a moment and said...
'Ummm it's...it's my uncle! He was supposed to come down by tonigh or max tomorrow morning. Maybe some of my staff member was trying to clean up the room! Or'

'Naked???'

'Well I'm... I'm sorry! I will personally check upon it you please make yourself comfortable!' saying Ray opened the door for me. I nodded and entered the room.

✨

'Please have some of these pancakes with this honey! It's farm fresh...was particularly extracted for you guys!' saying Ray offered us the bottle of fresh honey. I was still thinking about last night wondering if the man was caught.

Our trance was broken by a tall and a beautiful lady wearing a pencil skirt and a white button up shirt with a blunt cut join us at breakfast. She smiled warmly and hugged Ray. He returned the gesture as she kissed his forehead. Next she looked at Riya and smiled at her. Riya stood up and hugged the lady. The lady looked really young. Maybe she is his sister?

'Everyone...meet my mother Alice! Mom..this is Riya's family...the Dzouzas!' Ray introduced us to his mom and my jaws almost dropped. The lady looked like she is in her early thirties. Those beautiful blue eyes, the brownish golden short hair, the perfectly body hugging skirt and button up shirt, she had maintained herself really well.

My aunts stood up and hugged the beautiful lady. My uncles and my granny greeted her too. She returned a warm smile to all of them.

'We were waiting for you Mrs D'Cruz...Ray told us you were extremely busy we completely understand!' Aunt Nivea said hugging her again.

'Thank you Mrs D'Souza... Firstly I'm sorry because I was late...the meeting got extended and secondly it's Miss D'Cruz!' my aunt's face changed colors. I could sat she had a hundred questions in her head but she forced a smile on her face.

Breakfast happened silently post which Ray and Miss D'Cruz took us along to their boat. Ray had planned a day out for all of us which involved us taking us to see dolphins, involved taking us shipping. Later Ray and his mother took us to their private beach resort and we all had a awesome lunch which involved all Goan traditional dishes. Miss D'Cruz was an easy going lady. My aunts tried to get a little over friendly with her but she clearly showed no interest in entertaining them but was still polite to their advances. But she was all the time with Riya. Clearly she liked Riya a lot. I was happy for my little one.

✨

'Actually Miss D'Cruz we were thinking if we could get the kids engaged!!! I mean you know how media is...we are not as rich you folks are but then we belong to a reputed family in Mangalore. So you know before anything comes out in the media if we could...I mean...our other kids are also committed...Nisha is engaged to Sebastian who's a surgeon and is practicing in the U.S and Suman also has a girlfriend. We have spoken to both the kids and their families...they are in a relationship for more than 3-4 years' My aunt Nivea proposed.

'And why aren't they married yet?' Miss D'Cruz took a bite of the pizza and looked at my aunts who looked confused.

'We don't believe in waiting after the proposals are fixed Mrs Dsouza!!! Courtship is not something we appreciate in the D'Cruz household. We would want the kids married as soon as possible!' she said in a firm tone and my eyes almost popped out.

Marriage??? Riya is 21 and Ray is hardly 23-24! She's got to be kidding us!

'But Riya is still studying!' I spoke up and earned a glare from Aunt Nivea but Miss D'Cruz looked at me and asked...

'Ummm... Fari..if I'm not wrong that's your name right?' she asked and I nodded. Her voice and demeanor was so intimidating.

'You have any concerns?' she asked and I bit my lower lip. I knew my aunts would thrash me for this but Riya is my cousin and her career is important to me.

'Mam...Riya is just 21...she finished her graduation and has just given an entrance exam for MBA. She has always been the bright one who wanted to make it on her own. My Riya although had every facility and aminity available still chose to work during her summer holidays so she could buy her own text books without being dependent on her parents. She was always the independent revolutionary one. Getting a job, doing an MBA is also her dream. With this marriage what if my sister's dreams are tarnished!' I spoke up earning a sharp gaze from Miss D'Cruz.

My aunt intervened saying...
'Will you learn to shutup and stay away from our family matters Fari! Miss Dcruz don't mind her. She is a silly cousin of Riya. We...her parents are still alive unlike other orphan kids here who think they can speak up for my daughter!' my aunt spat venom and my eyes were turning glassy already.

'Nivea! My Fari is not an orphan! I'm still alive here! Remember!!!' she said firmly when my uncle added 'Mom... Nivea didn't mean that! Nivea was just trying to say that Fari won't understand all this'

'I know son what your wife meant! I hope she understood what I told her. Next time she speaks something like this I wouldn't even care to show her place to her!!!' my Hodlimai said clearly.

'Mrs Dsouza...Miss Fari! Please...' Miss D'Cruz interrupted and we were looking elsewhere. It's embarassing.

'Fari! I appreciate your concern. I understand that Riya's education is important. I will personally ensure she completes here MBA and have a flourishing career but that doesn't mean marriage can wait! I want the kids married as soon as possible.' Miss D'Cruz said while I looked at Riya and she nodded with a smile.

'If Riya's future is secure I'm happy Mam ..thank you' I said and she smiled saying

'I like you... I like women who speak their mind! And you can call me Alice! And we can get the dates finalized once Ray's uncle is back in town'. I smiled back and nodded.

'Oh we are glad Miss D'Cruz that finally we are a family' she went to hug Alice who simply responded back without a smile.

'But the Dzouzas have a family tradition! The eldest must get married first! And Fari is the eldest!' my grandmother spoke up while I looked at Hodlimai with pleading eyes. But she still didn't budge.

'Andddd we are back to square one!' Aunt Blandina added.

I hate this feeling of being a hiccup in people's life. I don't know what happened for a brief moment I just spoke up.

'Im ready to marry Daryl!!!'