Priya's POV

Vikram: Hotel ka? Hotel laam vendaam... Namma kitta oru master chef irukaanga. Vaa polaam. (Hotel? Why there while we have a master chef.)

Then Vikram asked me to hop on his bike. He drove his bike and stopped it infront of his house. Why did he come here?

Priya: Paapu, why did we come here?

Vikram: Where else should we go? As I said, why going to a hotel while you have a master chef with you? Oh... You're scared to meet my parents? Come on, they-

Priya: Hello, excuse me mister! Why should I be scared to meet my in-laws? I'm more comfortable with them. Remember it.

Vikram: Ok ok Ms.Priya. I'll remember. Come in. You were hungry right?

Priya: Oh yeah!! come come.

We went inside to be greeted by Lakshmi ma. I hugged her and there comes my darling. My sister in law. Aditi.

Aditi: Hey Anni!! How are you?

Priya: Fine darling. How's college? Actually, how are the boys in your college? Good?

Aditi: They are awesome. Unga aalu maari illa.(Not like your bf)

She said eyeing Vikram who was in the kitchen talking with his mother.

Priya: Really? Then I should set you up with one of them I guess...🤭

Aditi: Anni...

(Ps: Anni is a word to address your elder brother's wife)

Vikram: Ok ladies. Our master chef as agreed to cook paneer butter masala today. Uff... It was hard consoling her to cook instead of Appa today.

Priya: Wait. You're not gonna cook? I thought you'll be cooking giving rest to Lakshmi ma. And what's with her cooking 'instead' of Arunachalam Appa?

Aditi: Anni, actually Amma and Appa take turns in cooking. And coming to my dorkhead brother, he knows to cook. But he'll cook but only for himself. Kalnenjakaaran (Selfish person)

Vikram: What can I do ratchasi? Ungalukku kuduthu vekkala (You guys are not fortunate enough) 🤷

Priya: Naanga kuduthu vekkalaiya illa unakku olunga samaika vaaraadha? (We are not fortunate enough or your cooking skills suck that much that you don't allow anyone to taste it?)

Lakshmi ma: Eyy!! En paiyana romba otaadhinga di. But Priya... Maybe you're correct🤭 (Eyy... Don't make fun of my son girls.)

Vikram: Ma... 😒

We three laughed our heart out seeing his face. After a while, Arunachalam Appa too came home. We all ate our dinner together. What a yummy dinner it was.🤤 Delicious 😋. And then, Vikram and me started off from his home. It was already 9:30 PM when we reached my home.
I hopped down the bike, greeted him and turned to leave when I felt him holding my wrist and pulling me towards him. I turned around facing him and asked,

Priya: What?!

Vikram: Who'll pay for this transport service?

I dug my purse and took a twenty rupees note.

Priya: Iruvadhu rooba podhuma? (Is twenty rupees enough?)

Vikram: Ok dhaan but kooda GST ya oru kiss venum. Kuduthutu po. (Enough only. But I need a kiss a GST. Give it and you can leave.)

Priya: Haan haan... Really? Seri kanna moodu tharen. (Ok, close your eyes then.)

Vikram: Edhuku nee ulla odurathuka?  (Why? To run inside you're house?)

Priya: Chaa... You're so clever jii...

I went forward and pecked his cheeks before running inside the gate.

Priya: Good night Officer garu!!

I shouted as he went towards the end of our street. I was opening the door with a spare key when I heard my neighbour house aunty talking something.

"See this girl... Coming late at night that too with a boy. What kind of girl is she?"

These aunties... They never stop. I was already fed up with her. So, I went towards the compound wall between our house and called her. She soon came and started her act.

Aunty: What ma Priya? You came late ah? Group study I guess. You're working so hard ma. You want to call your mother? Wait let me bring my phone.

Priya: No, no, no aunty. I wanted to talk with you. Firstly, why do you care about when I come and go to my own house?  Why do you care about the person who drops ME? And most importantly, please don't butt in my life. Ok? Good night 😊 Byee 👋

I went inside, wished thaatha (grandpa) and Amma good night and slept in my room.

I called Deepika before sleeping. Guess what? My dumbass brother made it. He finally proposed to Deepu and she accepted it. She was already in her house when I called her. So,I missed teasing both Deepu and Varun together. But don't worry. I'll get a chance soon. I hanged up and slept as I was so tired.

Author's POV

Sunday came so soon. But guess for whom the days passed so slowly? Obviously, it was for Vikram and Priya. They were not able to talk with eachother for the past few days as Vikram was caught up with a case. So both of them were so eager to meet eachother. Priya, Deepika and Shanti ma reached T.Nagar while Vikram's family except for him reached ten minutes ago. Murugan thaatha stayed at home as he can't roam around the streets of T.Nagar like a teenager.

Aditi: Wow, Anni... You look so gorgeous.

Deepika: I know right... She's so beautiful... I don't how Vikram Anna will keep her eyes of her.

Priya: Thank you so much girls. By the way, where is Vikram?

Lakshmi ma: He'll join us after two hours ma. We can finish jewelry shopping within that. Come.

Priya: Ma... Why are you guys buying jewelry for engagement? We can buy it all together for marriage right? I'm not gonna wear them everyday anyways?

Lakshmi ma: It's a tradition darling. Don't say no. It'll be a gift from me.

Priya: Ok...

They all entered a jewelry shop and started exploring. After an hour and half, all the other four except Priya finally finalised a choker necklace for her. Then, everyone went inside a boutique to purchase sarees. Shantima, Lakshmi ma, Deepika and Aditi were searching sarees for themselves as Priya insisted on selecting her saree with Vikram. Within few minutes, Lakshmi ma's phone rang.

Lakshmi ma: Hello

???: ....

Lakshmi ma: Haan ok da... We are on the sixth floor.

Priya sighed in relief as she knew who it was. It was Vikram for sure. Aditi murmured something in Deepika's ears as an evil smirk appeared in both of their faces.

Aditi: Anni... Come with me na... I and Deepika saw an anarkali over there. I think it would look good on you. Come with us.

Priya: Wait Aditi, let Vikram come.

Deepika: Priya... You said you'll choose only your saree after Anna comes. Come with us na. He is here anyways. We can show that to him after trying.

They both dragged Priya to the anarkali section and stuffed a random anarkali before pushing her into the dressing room. Priya tried it on without even checking the size. It didn't even go inside her. So she removed it and changed into her saree. She came out adjusting her saree while she felt a pair of eyes staring at her. So she looked up to see Vikram staring at her as if she would disappear into thin her within few seconds.

Vikram's POV

Oh my!! Does this girl have any sense? How can she be this beautiful? It's definitely a crime. She looks gorgeous with that black saree and sleeveless blouse with an gold choker adorning her neck.

Someone... Control me na. I came out of my trance when amma patted my back.

Aditi: Deepika... I said you na that this plan will work?

Priya: What plan?

Deepika: This only. Anna searching for you. You coming out of the trial room slowly... Anna staring at you mesmerized... Nice scene la? All credits goes to Aditi.

Author: *cough cough* enna ma?

Deepika: seri seri, 3/4th credits goes to our author.

Author: Adhu...

Aditi: Porukaadhe...

Lakshmi ma: Seri ellarum vaanga, Priya ku saree select pannidalaam. (Ok come everyone, let's select a saree for Priya)

I went and sat beside Ammu and was seeing her while others were seeing the sarees. After half an hour or so, I got a call from the commissioner. It seems that the meeting has preponed. So, I have to start from here right now.

Vikram: Ammu... I'm so sorry... I have to go now. I know I said I'll stay for sometime... But I can't... I'm really really sorry. Pls forgive me. I'm sure I'll spend more time with you next week. I was not able to talk with you because of a case. Please forgive me once again. I'm so sorry...

Priya: Paapu!! Calm down!! What did I say right now? Did I accuse you? No right? Why are you worrying unnecessarily? I can understand. You carry on. We'll manage.

Vikram: Thank you so much darling. I love you. And Attha (aunty) I'm really sorry-

Shantima: I can understand dear. You carry on with your work. Don't need to repeat your apology letter once again.

I smiled at how both Ammu and Attha understood me. I was about to leave when I heard Ammu calling me.

Priya: Paapu... Just see and say which one is nice. Fast. This one or this one?

She asked and showed me two sarees, a green one and a blue one.

Vikram: Blue one will look good on you Ammu.

Priya: Ok then, I'll buy the green saree. Ok you go. You have a meeting right?

For real? What happened to this girl? Is she angry? Or... Is she upset? I ignored all the thoughts and started off to the Commissioner office in my Jeep. I have to find out whether she's angry or upset within my engagement which is after a week.

***********************************
Hey peaches,
  
     I'm sorry if this chapter is short or not nice. I wrote this today hurriedly while learning for my next exam. I said the engagement chapter will be released by Friday or Saturday right? That's why. Because this chapter was left over😅

    Engagement is going to be so exciting!!! Wait until weekend to read it.

      See you on weekend. Byeeeeee 💗. Take care 😘🥺💗

With love,
~Nila💜🌙

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