Esha smiled at Nikhil's parents who sat across from her at an Italian restaurant for dinner that night. She was dressed in a red dress with stilettos. Nikhil sat next to her, dressed in one of his full sleeve button-ups. She looked down at the menu she was reading.

Out of nowhere, she found Nikhil's hand sneaking its way to her thigh. She did nothing at first, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of rattling her in front of his parents. A few seconds later, she looked up at them. "So, Mrs. Khanna, Nikhil told me you guys lived here before. Why'd you move to...?"

"Roosevelt Island." Rasika informed, and then asked, "And please, dear, I'd love it if you called me mom, but, since Nikhil asked us not to make you feel pressurized, call me by my name."

Nikhil slid his hand further up her thigh. She shook her head, "Hmm, no. You're older. I wouldn't feel right. How about in between? Aunty?"

Rasika smiled back, "Works for now."

Kirtan asked, "So, Esha, how do you like it here so far? Nikhil said you two are working together on a project?"

"Uh, yeah. We are. Does he tell you guys everything?" She questioned, chuckling and turning her head towards him.

If someone didn't know her better, they would think she was accusing him for sharing everything with his parents, and calling him a mama's boy. When in fact, she admired that despite being an adult now, he shared things with his parents. They had that open relationship she never could have with her own parents. Her parents never really did listen to her, or even understood her.

"Until today, I used to think they could keep secrets. So yeah, I told them everything." He answered, before looking at his parents, "Now, I might have to reconsider that."

"Hey, just because she's in your life now does not mean you stop being close to your parents." Rasika scolded him, "Besides, she's family. It's not like we're giving away your secrets to outsiders." Rasika looked at Esha, and added, "Right, dear?"

Esha nodded, winking at her, "Always up to getting in on some secrets."

Esha had almost forgotten of his hand on her thigh. Almost. He had been noticing since he thought of teasing her that she wasn't too bothered. So, he decided to up the stakes. She didn't know that. She figured he was giving up, buying her act, when his hand went down to her knee, where the hem of her dress was. Her breath hitched when she realized he wasn't giving up. He had pulled her dress up a bit, sliding his hand to her bare skin instead of resting it over the fabric of her dress.

The color from her face must have disappeared, for she was taken aback at his audacity. Among the two of them, she was known to tease him. Not the other way around.

She gulped as his dad asked, "Is everything okay, Esha? You look pale."

She forced a smile, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a little cold."

Rasika nodded, "Ah, yes. Yesterday's blizzard is surely not helping the weather."

Their conversation was put on hold as the waiter came by to take their orders. "Hello, my name is Tyler and I'll be your server today. What can I get started for you?"

Kirtan was the first to speak, "Nick, up for a beer challenge?"

Nikhil looked at his mother, and then asked his dad, "You sure, dad? You know mom doesn't like it when you're drunk."

Kirtan scoffed, "Psh, please. I'm not scared of my wife."

"Oh really?" Rasika raised her eyebrow and challenged him. Esha and Nikhil both tried to hide their laughter. Nikhil knew for a fact that his father was, and Esha was finding that out.

Kirtan tried to convince his wife. "It's just a few beers, honey."

"Right, whatever."

Nikhil bobbed his head to the side, "Alright, bring it on, old man."

Tyler nodded, "Alright, and for the ladies?"

Esha said, "Oh, just water for me. Thanks."

"I'll get a glass of wine, number 13." Rasika spoke, putting the wine menu to the side.

"Certainly." Tyler answered, "Are you ready for appetizers and entrée, or do you need some more time?"

They went ahead and gave their orders. The waiter left to get their drinks.

Again, Esha had forgotten of his hand as it had stayed in one spot since he had last moved it. Once the waiter had left, he moved it again, inching closer to her inner thigh this time.

She turned her head to him to find him already looking at her. She gave him a warning look, which he shrugged it off, and engaged his parents in a conversation.  His parents were really the best at making her comfortable and involving her in the conversations and telling her stories. She didn't feel as if she was intruding on a family dinner.

She felt a part of it.

It reminded her of times when she would go to dinner with Sanam, Arjun, and his family. Those were the only times when she had felt like she was a part of a family. Like she belonged.

Nikhil moved his hand again, seeing she was still not bothered enough by it to stop him. He wanted to see, like last night, how far she would let it go.

She asked him, "Do you mind?" motioning to his beer, "I think I need something stronger than water." Ofcourse, she didn't wait for his permission. She reached her hand forward, and he released his hold on the bottle.

She stopped just before it touched her lips, realizing his parents were there. Nikhil put her mind at ease, "Babe, mom's having wine and I'm on a beer challenge with dad. What makes you think they'll judge you for having a drink?"

The nonchalant expression on everyone's face told her it was alright – that they didn't expect her to be prim and proper. For once, someone older than her wasn't judging her, expecting her to be a traditional Indian daughter and that relief was unlike another.

The server brought out their food. While having her first morsel, she glanced at Nikhil. He had no idea what was coming his way. She placed her left hand on his thigh, dangerously close to his member. At the contact, he choked on the food and went on a coughing fit. His parents glanced up from their plates at his violent coughing while Esha used her right hand to pat his back.

"Water?" Rasika offered, Nikhil had been looking towards Esha, surprised with her bold revenge. He moved his hand off her thigh to reach for the glass. After a few sips, he calmed down.

His parents continued to look at him to make sure he was fine. "I'm okay." He convinced them and they resumed eating. He then gave Esha a scolding look as if to ask 'what-the-hell-was-that?-Are- you-crazy?' Esha bit the inside of her cheek to stop a smirk while she gave him an innocent 'what?'

"Esha?" Rasika called her.

"Yes, aunty?"

"I think you made your point." There was a teasing smile on her face as she spoke to Esha who was confused at first, but then followed her eyes as they traveled towards Nikhil, and Esha understood what she was talking about. Her hand instantly pulled away, somewhere mortified at being caught. She wondered how Nikhil had started the game, but hadn't been seen, and she had been.

"What point?" Kirtan questioned, being out of loop at the situation.

Esha was giving a pleading look to his mother, though she didn't have to. Rasika answered, "Oh, just that it's smart for both of them to take their time in understanding each other and dating, you know? Before making their drunken actions a reality."

Kirtan nodded, agreeing to it. Esha was more relaxed than Nikhil, as she wouldn't have survived the humiliation if his mother had told his father just what point she was talking about. Luckily for the couple, the rest of the dinner passed without any more awkward encounters.

When they were finished eating, Esha excused herself towards the washroom to wash her hands. Before she'd reach there, Nikhil joined her. He spoke in a low voice, "That was a very dangerous revenge."

She groaned at being reminded of it, "You started it, and don't forget how your mom caught us. That was more dangerous."

"Well..." He trailed off, having no words in answer to ease her embarrassment.

"Yeah, exactly." She concluded before pushing the washroom door and disappearing inside. As fun as it was to get that reaction out of Nikhil, she didn't believe it was worth having his mother find out about it.

While they were walking out of the restaurant, Nikhil was having a conversation with his dad, walking in front of them. Esha cleared her throat before speaking, "Aunty, um, about what you saw..."

Rasika put her hand around her as she consoled, "Oh, relax. Don't be embarrassed. Seen and forgotten." Esha forced a smile on her face. His parents were really carefree and open, nonjudgmental. She noticed her looking at the father and son while she continued, "If anything, I am glad there's someone here to keep him in check. The only time he ever gave us something to worry about was never knowing if he would ever settle down."

Esha nodded, "I know, it was such a stupid, drunken mistake, and..."

Rasika interrupted, "Oh no, dear. Marriage is a sacred part of life. It can never be a mistake. Don't call it that. Would it have been preferable if it happened under different circumstances? Yes. But, not a mistake."

Nikhil had told her where he gets his ideals for marriage from – his parents. However, personally experiencing it had a different vibe to it. She could truly understand why he could hold such ideals. Surrounded by this couple, growing up around them and being raised by them could only be a matter of pride. She didn't doubt that if she stayed around them, had their influence in her life, she would have similar opinions as well – different than the one's she currently held.

They reached the parking lot, and she turned towards Rasika. "It was really nice getting to know you. Thank you for being so cool and agreeing for this dinner."

Esha genuinely smiled and gave her a hug, "How could I not, Aunty? I had fun."

Nikhil walked back to meet where they were standing, and then hugged Esha from behind, resting his chin on top of her head. Having not anticipated him, she squealed a little before putting her hand on top of his arm. She told Rasika, "It was a nice change to see where he gets his values from," while bobbing her head back on his chest.

"Okay, let's not get all dramatic and emotional." Nikhil commented, earning a playful slap from Esha and a glare from his mother.

Kirtan spoke up, "Alright kid, say good bye to your better half. And mom," He put his arm around his wife's shoulder, "I think you're going to have to drive us home." With the amount of beers both the father and son had, that was the only legal option.

"Who told you to drink so much, huh?" Rasika scolded him, and Esha was turned by Nikhil in his embrace. She rested her hands on his chest. "Are you going to get home okay?"

She nodded, reminding him, "I'm a big girl, Nikhil."

He gave her a cheeky smile, "I know. I'm just giving you a subtle hint; if you'd rather come home with me."

She shook her head, grinning. He was never going to leave a chance of asking her to come home with him. "Good night, Nikhil." She put her hands on his wrists to pull away from his embrace, but he didn't let her.

Her eyes lifted to his to ask him to leave her, but her vision was overwhelmed as he leaned down and captured her lips in a single kiss. "Good night, Mishti."

She opened her eyes at his words, letting the feeling of the kiss sink in. It felt intimate this time as this time, his parents were only a few meters away, getting inside the car. She had no doubt that they had seen it. No, she wasn't worried of what they'd think, or their reaction. Through the night, she had learnt to stop worrying of that. The only other kiss they had shared in public was the new years' party where he had kissed her without her permission. She had been so mad that she hadn't even relished the moment, or how the kiss had felt.

Now, she had.

She didn't get the chance to kiss him back as he was already loosening his hold around her. "Drive safe, love." He spoke as he walked backwards to the car door, not wanting to take his eyes off her. She too held his gaze as long as she could before he had no choice but to blink away. He opened it and slipped inside.

She then walked over to her car. A few minutes into the drive home, she received a phone call. She should have let it go to voicemail, but her eyes left the road for the briefest second to reach for her phone.

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