"What the hell is wrong with these people. I sighed and took a shirt and pant out of my wardrobe and got dressed. It looked semi-formal but it's okay. By the time I got down everyone was ready and were in the car. I don't know what's gonna happen today. Fuck it"

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"Hey, it's my car man! Let me drive." I said to Harish who was standing near the driver's door.

" It's either I drive or come with dad. What do you say?" He said and gave no choice to me. I just let out a small groan and threw the keys to him.

I took the shotgun while the twins took the back seat. Then Mom, dad, and Madhu got in another car for her safety. Once the car started to moved I turned towards my siblings and said,

"Have some faith in me guys, It's not like I am gonna run away from this Trap." while they just sneered at me.

 " Yeah, last time when you asked us to go ahead and said that you will join us later, but you ghosted on us and returned home after 3 fucking days." Tarika stated and glared at me.

"Or do I need to remain you about the sudden business trip to Singapore just to escape meeting that girl!" Tarun added to his twin statemen.

"And let's not forget the time when he said to dad that his schedule to meet the girl was next day not the day we were supposed to meet her." My sweet brother Harish teased me while the other two was busy laughing at me.

" It's not my fault that those things happened. It was misunderstanding!" I defended myself but actually, I did that on purpose. I needed some time but my parents forced me to meet them. So I took matters into my hand and didn't feel a little bit sorry.

I thought we will be getting into a freaking mansion but what surprised me was the beautiful home that's in front of me. This confused me to the core while my brother parked the car. We all got out and to my surprise, Shankar uncle and Vanitha aunt were there. What the hell is going on? Shankar and Vanitha are Karan and Karthik's parents and also close friends to our parents.

We greeted them and soon our parents joined us. I prayed to God to save me from this but it's of no use. We made our way inside, they have a mini garden in the front with few trees and a decent parking space. As we entered two men came and greeted us along with another man and woman similar to my parent's age. This is definitely not my scenario. God, I need to figure out a way out of this house and when I was busy planning my escape plan something or 'in particular' someone caught my attention.

It's my yellow lehenga girl and behind her was another guy who looks like our age. They both were standing close to each other and seeing her with other men made my blood boil. Without my knowledge, I tightened my fist and was about to move in their direction but held back by my brother. His action brought me back to reality.

Our parents were talking with them and were too busy to notice my action. I glared at the guy who stood behind her and he looked confused by my action. BUT as soon as my eyes met hers, again everything blurred completely leaving us in our own world. It seems surreal as I have seen these things happen only in movies and not in real life.

My intense stare made her blush and immediately looked down hiding her face with her beautiful long hair making it difficult for me to get a clear picture of her face. 'Oh, no my shy baby don't hide your face from me. Ever!' I thought to myself and smirked at her because I was the one who made her blush and not that stupid Racoon standing behind her.

She hurriedly made her way inside leaving everyone back. The two men who greeted us asked us to come inside. God, right now I need some fucking answers on what the hell is going on? Who are these people? 

With so many confusion going on my head, I entered her home and took a seat to ease myself. When I looked at my parents, they had a huge smile on their face while my siblings had a huge smirk. Almost giving me a knowing look. 

"I am sorry we are a little bit late. It's all because of my son." My dad said to his friend and in turn he a warm smile.

" He is just like you, Man! Always being late." Shankar uncle teased my dad. Dad fake glared and punched Shankar uncle. This made me scoff and roll my eyes at them. They are behaving as if they in their teenage. 

" He is right da, when have you ever made it to class on time?"

This time it was the uncle who welcomed us teased dad. They talk like they have known each other for long time. But I never got to see him and Dad would definitely made me to meet him at least once . I'm so confused right now.

" Not to be rude or something but who are they? You haven't introduced them to us." My father asked him. 

"Oh... I totally forgot about them. This is Mr. and Mrs. Ganesh, my well wisher and colleague from work and that's his son Akash." He introduced the other family to dad.

They just nodded but all the while that women is eyeing me as if I'm a unwanted creature and should snap be as soon as she can. What the hell is the problem with that woman?  Why is she glaring at me, I haven't done anything at least yet. 

I had my usual neutral expression and asked her, "Excuse me, Mrs. Ganesh, but do you have anything to say?"

"What nothing son, why do I have something on you?" she acted like 'she wasn't glaring at me' but before I could speak she asked her son,

 "Well, what do you say about Shristi? Is it okay for you? We could talk further with them and make other arrangements, What do you say?" And then she nudged her husband to talk. He just nodded his head to his wife and was about to speak but my father beat them.

" What do you mean about further arrangements with 'Shristi'?" Dad asked them. 

" I think it's up to my daughter, Ganesh and I can't force her. Actually, she is to meet this young man over there and not your son. Let her make her decision." Uncle said to Ganesh and his wife. Mean while his son looked like he was trying ways to escape from this place.

" But we ca.." His mom started to say but her son 'Akash' cut her off.

"Ma! This is not the right time and I have important work to do. Let her decide and inform us." With that he stood up and turned towards us.

" Thanks for having us, uncle. I really have an important work at home and before I leave can I see Shristi?" He asked uncle politely.

That's it my patience worn out. What the fuck he think of himself and does he need to see my girl?

' Yeah sure your girl' my subconscious mocked at me. 

" Hmm... Sure, Just a minute." Uncle hesitated for second but then he called Shristi. 

My girl comes down along with her sisters. Yes, she is gonna be my girl even if my subconscious mocks me. Never have I thought that I would be attracted to a girl this much after those incidents happened in my life. Even now I have my inner battle fighting against each other feelings but God!!! she looked so fucking beautiful. 

Wait... so her Name is 'Shristi'. 'Sweet name' I thought to myself and my mind was mocking me that I haven't noticed her name before itself. Akash stood up and goes near Shristi.

"Hmm... Thanks for everything you said to me. Take care and good luck." He said and gave her a charming smile. 

Yeah a fucking charming smile, My foot.

" Jealous much ah bro?" Tarun teased me and I glared at him to shut his mouth. 

Who says I'm jealous, well... a little bit.

 " It's my pleasure and remember what I said." Shristi said to him with a pure smile while this idiot nodded his head like a kid. Finally, they bid goodbye and from here. Once they gone Shristi's eyes met mine, I raised my eyebrows in a questioning manner but she blushed and gave me a shy smile. Seeing her smile mine lifted without my permission.

" Well, that surely was a good drama we had. It's time for us to let our children know what's going on man. They all look confused, especially Mrithun." Shankar uncle teased me while dad too agreed with him and smirked at me.

This old man is definitely gonna kill me one day with his suspense.

" Okay, let me introduce my family first." Uncle said to my dad. The living room looked so packed with our family but my attention was only on her. She is trying so hard not to blush and stealing glances at me. Her antics made me chuckle which by the way caught everyone's attention on me and I covered it with a cough. 'Get a grip Mrithun. Don't lose your shit!'

" Okay, I'm Mohan and DCP of Chennai district. This is my wife Sumathi and my two daughters Shristi and Shruthi. He is my brother Manoharan Working as Principal Commissioner in custom service and his wife Suguna. They are his daughter Shakthi and Shalini. Finally this my little sister Malika and her husband Vasanth, Shravani their daughter. My mom is taking some rest and she will join us soon. So this my family da." Mohan Uncle Finished his family tree.

We all said smiled and greeted them and my brother Tarun said, " All the sibling's names start with 'sh' and end with 'I'. That's cool." And everyone laughed at his comment. Yeah my brother can sometimes be sharp. 

" Yes, that's my wife's idea to name them." Mano uncle replied to him with a smile on his face.

 " So... Now it's my turn to introduce my family. Myself Kathiravan and this my wife Banumathi. My elder son Harish and his wife, my daughter Madhumitha. My second son Mrithun and last the twins Tarun and Tarika. And that's my best friend Shankar and Vanita. I do have a sister but she couldn't make it today. Maybe next time I will introduce her to you guys." My dad finished but continued,

 " You see kids Myself, Shankar and your dad Mohan were college mates and friends with each other. But we lost contact with them after a few years when we left Mumbai. When we came to visit my mom, my son Harish was not well and we had admitted him in the same hospital as you were born. It was a surprise for us to see him over there. You should have seen Mohan face, He looked like he was about to pass out anytime." My dad teased his friend and we all chuckled at them.

Dad continues the story " And that moment the nurse took the baby out and gave her to him. The baby was you 'Shristi'. That was the first time I saw him cry, 'the great police officer'. Then he passed the baby to me. She was so cute and pink and I instantly asked Mohan to marry her to my son. I know it's cliche but Shristi started to cry and your father doesn't know how to stop her crying. My wife held her but she couldn't calm her down and 'Mrithun' here was three years old started to sing rhymes to her and cooed her to sleep and then kissed her 'good night' as we do to him every night. That was the cute moment we had." My jaws dropped down at this story. I can't even remember it.

" Yes, I can't forget the day my daughter was born. This guy over there able to calm down my baby and not me. I got jealous of you. But then you held her until she slept on you and then the nurse took her away. That's when I decided not to give my daughter to you. But I think it's fate. That we are here. I won't say we totally lost contact, I did help your father with some legal case. Recently we met with our other college mates it was like a get-together and we discussed about you kids. Again your father asked my daughter's hand for his son. I couldn't deny it. So here we are" Mohan uncle finished.

There was complete silence and the elders started to laugh. " What happened kids? Why are you guys silent?" My mom asked. I was trying to process everything. Sure I had heard this story before but hearing this now I feel embarrassed and never imagined that baby was her. 

" It's okay. Come let us eat our lunch first and we can discuss other things later." Shristi's mom said to us and we made our way to the dining room. The table was enough for my family only this made me frown. 

" Uncle, Excuse me if I say something wrong but where will you guys be seated?" I asked Mohan uncle. 

" No son, you guys have lunch first we will have a little later." He said and that's not gonna happen. I looked over my dad and he understood what I was saying. 

" It's either you join us or we leave for a restaurant. What do you say?" He questioned him and Mohan Sighed and said " Okay. Is it fine if we sit down and have our lunch in the living room?" He suggested to us.

" Of course, sure uncle. We will help in setting up the room. Girls go and get food and boys follow me to shift the sofa and table. I am hungry." Tarun ordered us and I hit his head he yelled out at me. This made everyone laugh. We shifted the furniture and laid out the blanket and the girls placed banana leaf. Everyone was seated except for Shristi's mom and Aunt. They served us the food.

It's was regular items like sambar, vada, curd rice, vatha kolambu, vegetables, papad, and some parotta kuruma and pulaw. Well, that was some feast I had. Shristi sat across me and we will steal glances at each other and sometimes our siblings will catch us in the act. They had this weird smirk on their face and our parents were engaged in their own world catching up their time.

Once finished Madhu started to cry. We were all confused. My brother was trying so hard to calm her down.

" What happened ma. Why are you crying?" My mom questioned her. She always worries about her and takes care of her. 

" He forgot my chocolate, Ma and left it in the home. I asked him to pack some. I was craving chocolate this morning." Madhu said and it made me chuckle at her. Everyone was silently laughing at her.

My mom caught his ears and twisted them he hissed in pain " How can you forget her chocolate. I said to take care of her. Is this how you do it? I don't know what you do go get her chocolate." My mom ordered him. 

Suddenly, I think it was 'Shalini'.  She asked him to wait and got some chocolates for her. But still, Madhu wasn't satisfied. 

" If you don't mind by any chance you guys have dark and white chocolate?" Harish asked them and Shristi smiled at Madhu and said " I think I have some dark chocolate in my bag" with that she went to get those.

 " I think I might have taken some white chocolate from the fridge." My sister Tarika said sheepishly and got it from her purse.

" Sorry, I thought it was for me, Anni." she said and Madhu pinched her cheeks and said, " You are so gonna pay for it when you come home." With a scowl on her face.

" You can do as you may and that's your final warning son. Take care of her." Mom said and went to join the others. At the same time, my angel came down and gave Madhu her chocolates.

 " Shristi likes Dark chocolate so much. Just for your information" Shruthi said to me.

I smiled at her and said " Well, I must start buying those and keep it ready" and they all teased me. Shristi was blushing. Madhu started to laugh a little and open the three chocolate and took each bar from it. She then ate them at once and moaned at the taste. 

" Ew, Madhu. Can't you eat one at a time. It's weird seeing you eating like this." I teased her.

She glared at me and said, " It's not easy being pregnant and your niece or nephew carves for it here."

I turned towards my brother and said " How are handling her man? She has so many mood swings nowadays."

 My brother replied " Don't taunt me too much. One day you will be in my position and the same happens to you. Be prepared."

" That I am prepared bro. If my wife is ready." I smirked at him and looked towards Shristi and she blushes even more and everyone laughed out loud. " Don't blush too much or your cheeks are gonna hurt baby." I said to her and her eyes widened. She looked cute and it made me chuckle at her.

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Authors note

He called her baby. Maybe they are reliving their past. Who knows what holds next. I hope you loved this chapter.

It's south Indian tradition That if any guests arrive they will serve food in banana leaf and my opinion, is that the food tastes better when eaten on that leaf. Try for yourself guys.

Stay safe and be happy

#loveyourself😎

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